@article{10.1371/journal.pone.0002105, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0002105}, author = {Shlush, Liran I. AND Behar, Doron M. AND Yudkovsky, Guennady AND Templeton, Alan AND Hadid, Yarin AND Basis, Fuad AND Hammer, Michael AND Itzkovitz, Shalev AND Skorecki, Karl}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, title = {The Druze: A Population Genetic Refugium of the Near East}, year = {2008}, month = {05}, volume = {3}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0002105}, pages = {1-9}, abstract = {BackgroundPhylogenetic mitochondrial DNA haplogroups are highly partitioned across global geographic regions. A unique exception is the X haplogroup, which has a widespread global distribution without major regions of distinct localization.Principal FindingsWe have examined mitochondrial DNA sequence variation together with Y-chromosome-based haplogroup structure among the Druze, a religious minority with a unique socio-demographic history residing in the Near East. We observed a striking overall pattern of heterogeneous parental origins, consistent with Druze oral tradition, together with both a high frequency and a high diversity of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) X haplogroup within a confined regional subpopulation. Furthermore demographic modeling indicated low migration rates with nearby populations.ConclusionsThese findings were enabled through the use of a paternal kindred based sampling approach, and suggest that the Galilee Druze represent a population isolate, and that the combination of a high frequency and diversity of the mtDNA X haplogroup signifies a phylogenetic refugium, providing a sample snapshot of the genetic landscape of the Near East prior to the modern age.}, number = {5}, }