Original scientific paper

Isonymy and the Genetic Structure of Albanian Populations

Ilia Mikerezi
Paola Pizzetti
Enzo Lucchetti
Milva Ekonomi

Abstract

It is well known that in systems of surname transmission through the paternal line,
surnames simulate neutral gene alleles belonging to the Y chromosome. This property of
surnames was used to analyze the genetic structure of Albanian populations. Two large
samples of surnames belonging to two different periods of time were analyzed. The analysis
of indicators of population structure showed that geographical distance has an important
effect on surname distribution. It seems that isolation by distance and genetic
drift have been still important factors in the determination of the genetic structure of the
Albanian population.

Keywords

isonymy; surname; genetic relationship; human populations

Hrčak ID:

28185

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/28185

Publication date:

15.12.2003.

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