The Welsh are genetically the most closely matched to the early settlers of Britain who started arriving about 10,000 to 11,000 years ago just after the last Ice Age, a study carried out by an international team of geneticists revealed. Scientists discovered that the majority of Britons have 30% DNA in common with the modern Germans. This is a result of scientists analyzing the DNA of the UK’s population. The Anglo-Saxons arrived on the island about one ,500 year ago. Surprised to discover that there are very few genetic traces of Normans, Vikings and Romans in Britain’s population. The majority of the modern Briton’s genetics are pre-Roman pre-Roman early settlers. Modern Britons have very little evidence of the Norman Conquest in their DNA. Image: English Heritage. The colonization of Europeans after the last Ice Age resulted in subtle differences in Brits’ genetic makeup. Simon Myers from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Peter Donnelly from University College London and Stephen Leslie from Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Australia co-directed this study. Co-directors stated that although it is well known that humans are genetically different, they were able to see how invaders interbred with the local population. Genetic analysis revealed significant traces of DNA from pre-Roman and Ice Age settlers across the UK. The Welsh have the most genetic traces, with people living in the central and eastern regions of England having the next highest. The Anglo-Saxons left less (but no less) of a mark than the early settlers, but they did leave a significant impact on the DNA of modern Brits (up to 40%)). The Anglo-Saxons are the most influential settlers in modern Britain. After them, the Anglo-Saxons were next. Romans, Vikings, Normans and Romans had little impact. Sir Walter Bogmer from WTCHG’s Department of Oncology was the one who came up with the idea. As a basis for studies on genetic diseases, he wanted to determine if there was any meaningful genetic differentiation among the UK’s populations. Researchers collected DNA samples of 2 ,039 Britons living in rural areas. The researchers only chose four individuals from the 50 mile (80 km (or less) of one another to collect DNA samples. This allowed them to test the grandparents’ DNA since they were all born prior the major population shifts of the 20th Century. The UK was then divided into 17 regions clusters after the genetic analysis. The genetic clusters were found to coincide strongly with geographic areas. (Image: WTCHG). The DNA samples from people from Cornwall differed from the ones from Devon. However, Orkney was very different to all other groups. The 17 samples were then compared with those from six ,209 individuals in ten European countries with history of immigration to the British Isles. These comparisons revealed that Orkney had a high level of Norse Viking genetic DNA. It was surprising to discover virtually no Viking DNA in northern and eastern England, despite Danish dominance of the areas between the 9th and 11th centuries. These subtle effects were revealed by sophisticated statistical methods and high-performance computing that Garret Hellenthal, Simon Myers and two others developed. Myers stated that “in the future, increasing datasets will enable us to learn more about the genetic history the UK and other rich histories in the world by using similar techniques.” The Vikings left no trace of their presence in northern and eastern England, despite being dominant for nearly two centuries. There is no single “Celtic” genetic group. Scientists expected strong genetic similarities among all the Celtic regions of the UK, including Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as Cornwall. These groups are the most distinct from one another, they were shocked to discover. For example, the Cornish sample was more genetically similar to English groups than those from Wales or Scotland. What contribution did Anglo-Saxons make? Although they contributed to some of the genetic makeup of Briton, this was significantly less than that inherited from pre-Roman settlers. However, the study settles a historical dispute – Anglo-Saxons interbred and repopulated existing populations, rather than killing off or replacing them. The Landsker Line The Landsker is the boundary that separates the English- and Welsh-speaking regions of southwest Wales. English-speaking areas are often called “Little England Beyond Wales”. The DNA study reveals the Landsker Line’s effect. Pre-Roman immigrants’ genetic contribution The study indicates that there was significant migration to Britain from Europe after the initial post-Ice Age colonists, but before the arrival of the Romans. The DNA of these migrants spread throughout Britain. The authors stated that although “nothing” is known about these migrants, they are the single largest contributor to modern Britons’ DNA. WTCHG reports that many of the genetic clusters are similar to those of tribal groups and kingdoms at the end of 6th century. This suggests these kingdoms or tribes might have retained a local identity over the centuries. We have been able tell the story of all the people by using sophisticated statistical and genetic methods. Ewen Coop writes in Nature that Mr. Coop said, “But it gets trickier the farther back your ancestry is in the family tree. As less of your DNA is from one ancestor, the more you can trace your lineage.” Nature. Publication March 19, 2015. DOI: 10. 1038/nature14230.
