The Asian connection in a Croatian population

Y chromosome markers (biallelic and microsatelites) were analysed in the sample of 457 inhabitants from various Croatian regions (mainland and four eastern Adriatic islands: north-Krk ; south-Brac, Hvar and Korcula). Beside typically European Y chromosome lineages, P* cluster unusual for European populations has been detected. The ancestral state of M173(A) mutation was noticed in the mainland population (1.8%) as well as in the populations of the islands of Hvar and Korcula in considerable frequency of 14.3% and 6%, respectivelly. M173 ancestral A allele in P cluster, although being relatively rare, has a wide distribution in Central and Southern Asia while being almost absent in Europe. The derived C allele, in contrast, has become one of the major Y chromosome lineages in Europe. The presence of mtDNA haplogroup F on the island of Hvar (8.3%) that is virtually absent on the European continent also indicates a connection to Central Asian populations. Genealogical data of haplogroup F individuals suggests a founder effect on the island that could possible explain increased frequency of the ancestral state of M173(A) mutation. Microsatellite analyses revealed marked allelic difference in DYS392 locus between ancestral and derived state of M173 mutation. Ancestral state of M173(A) mutation was characterized by high predominance of 15 repeats long allele. Moreover, the results showed low values of assessed haplotype diversity (0.8745 +/- 0.0535) probably caused by the recent founder effect in an isolated population. Although necessarily speculative, we will discuss several historically documented events that may explain the arrival of such "irregular" maternal and paternal genetic lineages in the context of otherwise typically Illyrian-Greek-Slavic admixture of the southern Adriatic (Dalmatian) heritage.