Armenians on the genetic map of South-West Asia based on genome-wide autosomal data

Abstract

Armenians are an indigenous ethnic group historically inhabited the region in the southern Caucasus. The genetic structure of the population has been mostly tested for haploid (mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome) markers. Here the genetic relationships between Armenians and neighboring populations were analyzed based on genome-wide autosomal SNP typing data. Congruence between the results based on the Y-chromosomal and autosomal data was revealed, which point to the genetic isolation of Armenians from external influences during last several millennia.