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Geneticists seized the opportunity provided by an international Basque cultural event held in Idaho in 2010 to sample volunteers and study Basque DNA. The result was two studies, including "The Y-STR Genetic Diversity of an Idaho Basque population, published in Human Biology.
It was the first DNA study to document the spread of the Basque male chromosome overseas. The Basque people were renowned seafarers.
"The idea is to better understand health risks for Basque people, including an increased incidence of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases," said Josu Zubizarreta, a Boise State graduate who conducted research with the lead author, Greg Hampikian.
Mitochondrial DNA, which reflects a deeper history, was also studied.
Basques are credited with the invention of the rudder. They provided the crew and navigators for Magellan. Basque names are common on antique maps. The Bay of Biscayne is named for them, and many harbors, points and landfalls on the Atlantic Coast of North America are thought to come from the Basque language, which is known as an isolate and is unrelated to other European languages.
Sculpture of Basque sailor, Victorio Macho, Toledo. Travelpod.
Citation
Zubizarreta, Josu; Davis, Michael C.; and Hampikian, Greg
(2011)
"The Y-STR genetic diversity of an Idaho Basque population, with comparison to European Basques and US Caucasians,"
Human Biology:
Vol. 83:
Iss.
6, Article 2.
Available at:
http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol83/iss6/2
Comments
I recently read about the high incidence of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, amongst people with Basque origin. Only recently I read about a study being done in the coffee region of Colombia because of the high levels of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
diseases in the populations of that region. I am talking about the regions of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, QuindÃo and the northern regions of the Cauca Valley of Colombia. A few months ago I found out with great surprise that my grandmother has Alzheimer's
disease and my mom is taking a medication to slow down the disease process. All of my relatives come from this region in Colombia and I was born there too. It is interesting to know that I have Basque in me but I am sad to know that I could carry this terrible
disease in me too.