Neolithic and Bronze Age migration to Ireland and establishment of the insular Atlantic genome

Modern Europe has been shaped by two episodes in prehistory, the advent of agriculture and later metallurgy.

These innovations brought not only massive cultural change but also, in certain parts of the continent, a change in genetic structure. The manner in which these transitions affected the islands of Ireland and Britain on the northwestern edge of the continent remains the subject of debate.

The first ancient whole genomes from Ireland, including two at high coverage, demonstrate that large-scale genetic shifts accompanied both transitions. We also observe a strong signal of continuity between modern day Irish populations and the Bronze Age individuals, one of whom is a carrier for the C282Y hemochromatosis mutation, which has its highest frequencies in Ireland today.

For More please see PNAS.

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