The Forest and Tundra Nenets: differences in Y-chromosome haplogroups

   The Forest and Tundra Nenets in different areas of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug were studied using Y-chromosome markers. The results of analyzing the genetic structure of Nenets clans using 44 STR markers of the Y chromosome are presented, taking into account their presence in subethnoses (Tundra and Forest Nenets), as well as to the Kharyuchi (“true Nenets”) and Vanuito (“foreigners”) phratries. The number of the Nenets (N = 606) includes the Tundra (N = 536) and Forest (N = 70) Nenets. Sublineage N1a2b1b1a~-B170 is specific for the clans in the Kharyuchi phratry, and sublineage N1a2b1b1b-B172, for the clans in the Vanuito phratry. Most Forest Nenets clans have haplogroup N1a2b1-B478. All males of the Pyak clan, which is prevalent in the Forest Nenets, have a specific haplogroup, N1a1a1a1a2a1c1~. The results of the study suggest that the Nenets clan associations typically have a common ancestor in the male line and are characterized by a recent founder effect. Each Nenets clan has its own specific cluster of haplotypes, equidistant from each other. The structure of Y-chromosome haplotypes and haplogroups in the Nenets gene pool includes the Nenets heritage from the Khanty and Enets. Many samples from these sample sets were shown to have rare haplotypes that were absent from the baseline data and to differ significantly from the other haplotypes found in the populations. They belong to various rare branches of the Y-chromosome haplogroups found only in these sample sets. Some samples form haplotype variants that have not been described previously and allow us to characterize the phylogeny of these lineages in more detail. The Forest and Tundra Nenets differ greatly in the composition of haplogroups, which is fully consistent with ethnological and linguistic data on the origin of these populations. The predominant haplogroups are N1a1a1a1a2a1c1~-Y13850, Y13852, Y28540 CTS9108 (xY24219, Y24375) and N1a2b1-B478, Z35080, Z35081, Z35082, Z35083, Z35084 (xB169) in the Forest Nenets, and N1a2b1b1a~-B170 (xZ35104), N1a1a1a1a2a1c~-Y13850, Y13852, Y13138, PH3340 (xY24219, Y24365) and N1a2b1b1b-B172, Z35108 in the Tundra Nenets.

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