European Roma groups show complex West Eurasian admixture footprints and a common South Asian genetic origin

Area of Science:

• Population Genetics
• Human Migration Studies
• European Ethnography

Background:

• The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority, with diverse linguistic and cultural roots traced to Northwest India.
• Previous studies suggest Roma migration through Persia and the Balkans into Europe, but their precise South Asian origins and West Eurasian genetic makeup remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fine-scale characterize the South Asian and West Eurasian ancestries of European Roma, focusing on Iberian Roma genetic substructure.
• To elucidate the admixture events and historical influences shaping Roma genetic diversity.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of previously published genome-wide data from 152 European Roma and 34 new Iberian Roma samples.
• Fine-scale and haplotype-based genetic analysis to determine ancestry components and admixture history.

Main Results:

• The proto-Roma likely originated from a Punjabi group with low West Eurasian ancestry.
• A significant West Eurasian component (approx. 65%) was identified, resulting from admixture between 1270-1580.
• Distinct genetic footprints from the Balkans, Baltic, and Iberian regions were detected in various European Roma groups, indicating complex admixture events.

Conclusions:

• The study refines the understanding of Roma origins, pinpointing a Punjabi source with subsequent complex admixture events.
• Genetic substructure within Iberian Roma reflects diverse historical interactions and admixture levels within the Iberian Peninsula.