Cypriot DNA refers to the genetic makeup of individuals originating from the island of Cyprus, which is a blend of West Asian, European, and North African ancestries due to its location at the crossroads of ancient trade routes.
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Cypriot DNA refers to the genetic makeup of individuals originating from the island of Cyprus, which is a blend of West Asian, European, and North African ancestries due to its location at the crossroads of ancient trade routes. According to a 2019 study published in the European Journal of Human Genetics, the Cypriot gene pool is predominantly influenced by Greek ancestry. This is due to the island’s historical connections with Greece, as well as the migration of Greek people to the island during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. However, the study also found that there are significant levels of Turkish and Levantine ancestries in the Cypriot population.
A quote from the study’s authors states, “Cyprus is a bridge between the Middle East, Europe and North Africa, and its genetic diversity reflects that history.”
Interesting facts about Cypriot DNA:
- Cyprus is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the world, with evidence of human habitation dating back more than 10,000 years.
- The island has been occupied by various civilizations throughout history, including the Mycenaeans, Phoenicians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans, and British.
- Due to its strategic location, Cyprus has been a center of trade and commerce for centuries, with influences from neighboring regions and cultures.
- The Cypriot dialect of Greek contains many loan words from Turkish and other neighboring languages, reflecting the island’s diverse linguistic heritage.
- Cypriot cuisine is also influenced by its multicultural history, with dishes incorporating flavors and ingredients from Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East.
Here is a table outlining the genetic makeup of Cypriot individuals based on the aforementioned study:
Ancestry | Percentage |
---|---|
Greek | 78% |
Levantine | 13% |
Turkish | 9% |
Watch a video on the subject
The video creator talks about the updated results of her ancestry DNA tests and responds to comments from her first video, where viewers questioned her heritage despite her family having a long history of tracing their Greek roots. She details her family’s origins from Kefalonia and Crete, and expresses her dismay at comments that question or invalidate her nationality. The video creator also discusses the backlash she received because of her appearance, despite it being a common trait of Greek people. Despite these negative experiences, the creator is happy with her results and grateful that her ancestry didn’t narrow down more than expected.
There are other points of view available on the Internet
Cypriots belong to a wide and homogeneous genetic domain, along with the people of the Aegean Islands (including Crete), Sicily, and southern Italy (including the Greek-speaking minorities of Apulia and Calabria). The continental part of Greece, including Peloponnesus, appears as slightly differentiated, by clustering with the other Southern Balkan populations of Albania and Kosovo. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots share primarily a common pre-Ottoman paternal ancestry.
A 2017 study, found that Cypriots belong to a wide and homogeneous genetic domain, along with the people of the Aegean Islands (including Crete), Sicily, and southern Italy (including the Greek-speaking minorities of Apulia and Calabria), while the continental part of Greece, including Peloponnesus, appears as slightly differentiated, by clustering with the other Southern Balkan populations of Albania and Kosovo.
Overall, the Y-chromosome analysis performed, using both Y-STR haplotype and binary Y-haplogroup data puts Cypriot in the middle of a genetic continuum stretching from the Levant to Southeast Europe and reveals that despite some differences in haplotype sharing and haplogroup structure, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots share primarily a common pre-Ottoman paternal ancestry.
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The frequency of total haplotypes shared between Turkish and Greek Cypriots is 7-8%, with analysis showing that none of these are found in Turkey, thus not supporting a Turkish origin for the shared haplotypes.