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The fine-scale genetic structure of the British population

Author

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  • Stephen Leslie

    (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
    University of Melbourne
    University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK)

  • Bruce Winney

    (University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK)

  • Garrett Hellenthal

    (University College London Genetics Institute, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

  • Dan Davison

    (Counsyl, 180 Kimball Way)

  • Abdelhamid Boumertit

    (University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK)

  • Tammy Day

    (University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK)

  • Katarzyna Hutnik

    (University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK)

  • Ellen C. Royrvik

    (University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK)

  • Barry Cunliffe

    (University of Oxford, Institute of Archaeology, 36 Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PG, UK)

  • Daniel J. Lawson

    (University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TW, UK)

  • Daniel Falush

    (College of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK)

  • Colin Freeman

    (The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK)

  • Matti Pirinen

    (University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland)

  • Simon Myers

    (University of Oxford, 1 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3TG, UK)

  • Mark Robinson

    (University of Oxford, University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK)

  • Peter Donnelly

    (The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
    University of Oxford, 1 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3TG, UK)

  • Walter Bodmer

    (University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK)

Abstract

Fine-scale genetic variation between human populations is interesting as a signature of historical demographic events and because of its potential for confounding disease studies. We use haplotype-based statistical methods to analyse genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from a carefully chosen geographically diverse sample of 2,039 individuals from the United Kingdom. This reveals a rich and detailed pattern of genetic differentiation with remarkable concordance between genetic clusters and geography. The regional genetic differentiation and differing patterns of shared ancestry with 6,209 individuals from across Europe carry clear signals of historical demographic events. We estimate the genetic contribution to southeastern England from Anglo-Saxon migrations to be under half, and identify the regions not carrying genetic material from these migrations. We suggest significant pre-Roman but post-Mesolithic movement into southeastern England from continental Europe, and show that in non-Saxon parts of the United Kingdom, there exist genetically differentiated subgroups rather than a general ‘Celtic’ population.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Leslie & Bruce Winney & Garrett Hellenthal & Dan Davison & Abdelhamid Boumertit & Tammy Day & Katarzyna Hutnik & Ellen C. Royrvik & Barry Cunliffe & Daniel J. Lawson & Daniel Falush & Colin Fr, 2015. "The fine-scale genetic structure of the British population," Nature, Nature, vol. 519(7543), pages 309-314, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:519:y:2015:i:7543:d:10.1038_nature14230
    DOI: 10.1038/nature14230
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    Cited by:

    1. Gierczak Dariusz, 2015. "Contested minorities – the case of Upper Silesia," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 3(2), pages 41-51, June.
    2. Alejandro Ochoa & John D Storey, 2021. "Estimating FST and kinship for arbitrary population structures," PLOS Genetics, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-36, January.
    3. Georgios Efthyvoulou & Vincenzo Bove & Harry Pickard, 2023. "Micromotives and macromoves: political preferences and internal migration in England and Wales," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(5), pages 1145-1167.
    4. Ross P Byrne & Rui Martiniano & Lara M Cassidy & Matthew Carrigan & Garrett Hellenthal & Orla Hardiman & Daniel G Bradley & Russell L McLaughlin, 2018. "Insular Celtic population structure and genomic footprints of migration," PLOS Genetics, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, January.
    5. Christian M Hagen & Vanessa F Gonçalves & Paula L Hedley & Jonas Bybjerg-Grauholm & Marie Bækvad-Hansen & Christine S Hansen & Jørgen K Kanters & Jimmi Nielsen & Ole Mors & Alfonso B Demur & Thomas D , 2018. "Schizophrenia-associated mt-DNA SNPs exhibit highly variable haplogroup affiliation and nuclear ancestry: Bi-genomic dependence raises major concerns for link to disease," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-14, December.

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