Population structure and genome-wide patterns of variation in Ireland and Britain.

ABSTRACT: Located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland, Britain and Ireland were among the last regions of Europe to be colonized by modern humans after the last glacial maximum. Further, the geographical location of Britain, and in particular of Ireland, is such that the impact of historical migration has been minimal. Genetic diversity studies applying the Y chromosome and mitochondrial systems have indicated reduced diversity and an increased population structure across Britain and Ireland relative to the European mainland. Such characteristics would have implications for genetic mapping studies of complex disease. We set out to further our understanding of the genetic architecture of the region from the perspective of (i) population structure, (ii) linkage disequilibrium (LD), (ii

SUBMITTER: O'Dushlaine CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2987482 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature