Genetic population structure across Brittany and the downstream Loire basin provides new insights on the demographic history of Western Europe
Isabel Alves|Joanna Giemza|Michaël G. B. Blum|Carolina Bernhardsson|Stéphanie Chatel|Matilde Karakachoff|Aude Saint Pierre|Anthony F. Herzig|Robert Olaso|Martial Monteil|Véronique Gallien|Élodie Cabot|Emma Svensson|Delphine Daian|Estelle Baron|Charlotte Berthellier|Céline Besse|Hélène Blanché|Ozvan Bocher|Anne Boland|Stéphanie Bonnaud|Éric Charpentier|Claire Dandine‐Roulland|Claude Férec|Christine Fruchet|Simon Lecointe|Édith Le Floch|Thomas Ludwig|Gaëlle Marenne|Vincent Meyer|Elisabeth Quellery|Fernando Racimo|Karen Rouault|Florian Sandron|Jean‐Jacques Schott|Lourdes Velo Suarez|Jade Violleau|Eske Willerslev|Yves Coativy|Mael Jézéquel|Daniel Le Bris|Clément Nicolas|Yvan Pailler|Marcel Goldberg|Marie Zins|Hervé Le Marec|Mattias Jakobsson|Pierre Darlu|Emmanuelle Génin|Jean‐François Deleuze|Richard Redon|Christian Dina
Abstract European genetic ancestry originates from three main ancestral populations - Western hunter-gatherers, early farmers and Yamnaya Eurasian herders whose edges geographically met in present-day France. Despite its central role to our understanding of how the interacted gave rise modern population structure, history France has remained largely understudied. Here, we analysed high-coverage whole-genome sequences genome-wide genotype profiles respectively 856 3,234 individuals northern half France, merged them with publicly available ancient Europe-wide datasets. We also explored, for first time, six mediaeval (300-1100 CE) gain insights into impact what is commonly known as Migration Period Europe. found extensive fine-scale structure across Brittany downstream Loire basin, emphasising need investigating local better understand distribution rare putatively deleterious variants space. Overall, observed an increased differentiation between southern sides river Loire, which are characterised by different proportions steppe vs. Neolithic-related ancestry. Samples carry largest levels show high allele sharing associated Bell Beaker complex, that only comparable those lying on northwestern Together, results imply retain substantial legacy changes occurred Northwestern Europe following arrival people c. 2500 BCE. Such may explain disease-related alleles other Britain Ireland.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)|HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)