3 ms·

Genetic map of Europe; genes vary as a function of distance

39 points by makimaki 18y ago

transburgh 18y ago
"an individual's DNA can be used to infer their geographic origin with surprising accuracy--often to within a few hundred kilometres." impressive
DavidPP 18y ago
Would be curious to see a geographic map of the US with the genetic country of origin of the population on top of it.
- kingkongrevenge 18y ago
  "The Nine Nations of North America" and "Albion's Seed" have detailed data on the distinct cultural regions of the US, but no genetic information.
tokenadult 18y ago
an individual's DNA can be used to infer their geographic origin with surprising accuracy--often to within a few hundred kilometres. But with what kind of error band around that inference? Who has conducted a validation study on this?
aswanson 18y ago
Probably wouldn't work in the US, too many mashups.
- dhughes 18y ago
  Canadian cities like Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto would be insane! So many different groups of people marry and their kids marry too creating an amazing mix of people.
  - a-priori 18y ago
    We're lucky we developed genetics when we did. The study of human gene migration depends on people staying relatively immobile over time, and population groups remaining genetically separate. In a couple generations, if populations continue to mix (which, in all likelyhood, they will), much of this information may have been lost.
ia 18y ago
i bet iceland would be an extreme example of this. when i was there, it did seem like a lot of native icelanders looked alike.
euccastro 18y ago
Nitpick: Barcelona-Madrid-Lisbon is a poor way to sample the Iberian peninsula. Geographical features and historical events divide the territory in bands along a NW-SE axis (roughly Atlantic vs Mediterranean). Two interesting sample spots that are lost in this NE-SW sample would be the Basque country (a pre-indoeuropean culture) and Galicia-Asturias (remains of celtic culture, colonized by Swabs[1], as opposed to West Goths, after the fall of the Roman Empire, and never conquered by the Muslims). Another reason why these would be interesting would be that Irish celtic legends say that their people come from the north of the Iberian peninsula. [1] The Swabs also occupied territories in northern Italy. This might explain why Portugal (originally a Galician county) seems closer to Italy than (West Goth) Madrid and Barcelona.

39 points by makimaki 18y ago

"an individual's DNA can be used to infer their geographic origin with surprising accuracy--often to within a few hundred kilometres." impressive

DavidPP 18y ago

Would be curious to see a geographic map of the US with the genetic country of origin of the population on top of it.

kingkongrevenge 18y ago
"The Nine Nations of North America" and "Albion's Seed" have detailed data on the distinct cultural regions of the US, but no genetic information.

tokenadult 18y ago

an individual's DNA can be used to infer their geographic origin with surprising accuracy--often to within a few hundred kilometres. But with what kind of error band around that inference? Who has conducted a validation study on this?

aswanson 18y ago

Probably wouldn't work in the US, too many mashups.

dhughes 18y ago
Canadian cities like Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto would be insane! So many different groups of people marry and their kids marry too creating an amazing mix of people.
- a-priori 18y ago
  We're lucky we developed genetics when we did. The study of human gene migration depends on people staying relatively immobile over time, and population groups remaining genetically separate. In a couple generations, if populations continue to mix (which, in all likelyhood, they will), much of this information may have been lost.

ia 18y ago

i bet iceland would be an extreme example of this. when i was there, it did seem like a lot of native icelanders looked alike.

euccastro 18y ago

Nitpick: Barcelona-Madrid-Lisbon is a poor way to sample the Iberian peninsula. Geographical features and historical events divide the territory in bands along a NW-SE axis (roughly Atlantic vs Mediterranean). Two interesting sample spots that are lost in this NE-SW sample would be the Basque country (a pre-indoeuropean culture) and Galicia-Asturias (remains of celtic culture, colonized by Swabs[1], as opposed to West Goths, after the fall of the Roman Empire, and never conquered by the Muslims). Another reason why these would be interesting would be that Irish celtic legends say that their people come from the north of the Iberian peninsula. [1] The Swabs also occupied territories in northern Italy. This might explain why Portugal (originally a Galician county) seems closer to Italy than (West Goth) Madrid and Barcelona.