| Y-chromosomal Aaron |
Website Links For Aaron |
Information AboutY-chromosomal Aaron |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT Y-CHROMOSOMAL AARON | |
| genetics | |
| jews | |
| human evolution | |
| human y-dna modal haplotypes | |
| genetic genealogy | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
|
The techniques used to find Y-chromosomal Aaron were first popularized in relation to the search for the patrilineal ancestor of all Human s, Y-chromosomal Adam . BACKGROUND In Genetics , it is understood that every human has 46 Chromosome s, of which 23 are inherited from each parent. Two chromosomes, the X Chromosome and Y Chromosome , determine sex. Women have two X chromosomes, one inherited from their mother, and one inherited from their father. Men have an X chromosome inherited from their mother, and a Y chromosome inherited from their father. Males who share a common ancestor should also share a Y chromosome, diverging only with respect to accumulated Mutation s. Mutations on the Y chromosome occur at a relatively constant rate, allowing scientists to estimate the time that has passed since carriers of similar Y chromosomes had a common ancestor. (See Molecular Clock ). (Another kind of DNA, Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), is not on any chromosome, but is instead passed from mother to child in the Cytoplasm of the egg. This always comes from the mother, and also remains unchanged except for accumulated mutations). THE HYPOTHESIS Membership in the Jewish community is traditionally passed via the maternal line (see Who Is A Jew ). Membership in the specific group that makes up the Jewish priesthood (the Kohens or ''Kohanim''), however, is Patrilineal . Kohens claim descent from Aaron, brother of Moses. Since male children always get their Y chromosome from their father, it can be hypothesised that all Kohanim should share the same Y chromosome, neglecting any Mutation s that have occurred since Aaron. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS This hypothesis was first Tested by Prof. Karl Skorecki and collaborators from Haifa , Israel . In their 1997 study, they discovered that many Kohanim share certain Y-chromosome markers, which argues in favor of the hypothesis. Other studies (Thomas MG ''et al'', 1998) have corroborated the findings, and have dated the origin of the shared DNA at about 3,000 years ago (with variance arising from different generation lengths). This led to the development of the Cohen Modal Haplotype , a set of Y-chromosomal markers that might have been shared by the Biblical Aaron. COHEN MODAL HAPLOTYPE The Cohen Modal Haplotype is as follows: DYS 19/DYS394 = 14 DYS388 = 16 DYS390 = 23 DYS391 = 10 DYS392 = 11 DYS393 = 12 The Cohen Modal Haplotype belongs to Haplogroup J . CRITICISM AND RESPONSE Understandably, the finding led to a lot of excitement in religious circles, providing some "proof" of the historical veracity of the Bible [http://www.aish.com/societywork/sciencenature/the_cohanim_-_dna_connection.asp , but also leading to criticism [http://www.ariga.com/genes.shtml]. Other carriers of the DNA The Cohen Modal Haplotype has been also been found in significant numbers in groups of non-Jews, notably Italians, the Lemba of Southern Africa (who have a tradition of Jewish ancestry) (Thomas MG ''et al'' 2000 ), and some groups of Kurds . History records the migration of large numbers of Jewish slaves to Rome (what is now Italy ), in particular in association with the building of the Colosseum . Kurds have no direct tradition or history of Jewish lineage, but the area in which most Kurds live ( Kurdistan ) overlaps the ancient territory of Babylon , for which history records substantial (forced) Jewish immigration. Y-chromosomal Levi? While Kohanim are believed to have descended in the patrilineal line from Aaron , brother of Moses , Levite s (a second level of Jewish priesthood) are traditionally believed to have descended in the patrilineal line from Levi , son of Jacob . Levites should also therefore share common Y-chromosomal DNA. An investigation of men who consider themselves Levites found high frequencies of multiple distinct markers, suggestive of multiple origins for the majority of non-Aaronid Levite families. One marker, however, present in more than 50% of Eastern European ( Ashkenazi ) Jewish Levites points to a common male ancestor within the last 2000 years for many Levites of the Ashkenazi community. 4 SEE ALSO REFERENCES
EXTERNAL LINKS
|