Soumaya Triki-Fendri1, Paula Sánchez-Diz2, Danel Rey-González2, Suad Alfadhli3, Imen Ayadi1, Riadh Ben Marzoug1, Ángel Carracedo2,4, Ahmed Rebai1. 1. Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, BP1177 Route Sidi Mansour Km 6, Sfax, Tunisia. 2. Forensic Genetics Unit, Institute of Forensic Science, University of Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Galicia, Spain. 3. Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait. 4. Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the Y-chromosome haplogroup diversity in the Kuwaiti population to gain a more complete overview of its genetic landscape. METHOD: A sample of 117 males from the Kuwaiti population was studied through the analysis of 22 Y-SNPs. The results were then interpreted in conjunction with those of other populations from the Middle East, South Asia, North and East Africa, and East Europe. RESULTS: The analyzed markers allowed the discrimination of 19 different haplogroups with a diversity of 0.7713. J-M304 was the most frequent haplogroup in the Kuwaiti population (55.5%) followed by E-M96 (18%). They revealed a genetic homogeneity between the Kuwaiti population and those of the Middle East (FST = 6.1%, P-value < 0.0001), although a significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances was found (r = 0.41, P-value = 0.009). Moreover, the nonsignificant pairwise FST genetic distances between the Kuwait population on the one hand and the Arabs of Iran and those of Sudan on the other, corroborate the hypothesis of bidirectional gene flow between Arabia and both Iran and Sudan. CONCLUSION: Overall, we have revealed that the Kuwaiti population has experienced significant gene flow from neighboring populations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and East Africa. Therefore, we have confirmed that the population of Kuwait is genetically coextensive with those of the Middle East.
OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the Y-chromosome haplogroup diversity in the Kuwaiti population to gain a more complete overview of its genetic landscape. METHOD: A sample of 117 males from the Kuwaiti population was studied through the analysis of 22 Y-SNPs. The results were then interpreted in conjunction with those of other populations from the Middle East, South Asia, North and East Africa, and East Europe. RESULTS: The analyzed markers allowed the discrimination of 19 different haplogroups with a diversity of 0.7713. J-M304 was the most frequent haplogroup in the Kuwaiti population (55.5%) followed by E-M96 (18%). They revealed a genetic homogeneity between the Kuwaiti population and those of the Middle East (FST = 6.1%, P-value < 0.0001), although a significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances was found (r = 0.41, P-value = 0.009). Moreover, the nonsignificant pairwise FST genetic distances between the Kuwait population on the one hand and the Arabs of Iran and those of Sudan on the other, corroborate the hypothesis of bidirectional gene flow between Arabia and both Iran and Sudan. CONCLUSION: Overall, we have revealed that the Kuwaiti population has experienced significant gene flow from neighboring populations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and East Africa. Therefore, we have confirmed that the population of Kuwait is genetically coextensive with those of the Middle East.
Authors: Rafiqua Ben El Haj; Ayyoub Salmi; Wafa Regragui; Ahmed Moussa; Naima Bouslam; Houyam Tibar; Ali Benomar; Mohamed Yahyaoui; Ahmed Bouhouche Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-07-19 Impact factor: 3.240