The Y-chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA of gypsies are similar to those of South and Central Asians

D. Balasubramanian:

Modern biologists have used the tools of molecular genetics to provide some tentative insights into the origins and lives of the gypsies. The Australian geneticists Luba Kalaydjieva, Bharti Morar, David Grehsam and associates have studied the telltale markers in the DNA sequences in the paternally derived Y-chromosome and maternally gifted mitochondrial DNA of 14 different gypsy populations.

In all these 14, the characteristic pattern called haplogroup H-M82, which is typical of the Asian Y-chromosome, and the haplogroup M in the mitochondrial DNA, also seen in Asian populations, were seen in 26 per cent of the female lineages in these fourteen gypsy groups.

A similar analysis by the Estonian scientist T. Kivisild and group showed that the M217 marker, which is seen in 1.6 per cent of male Roma, is also found in West Bengal.

In general, about 50 per cent of the observed Y chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA belong to male haplogroup H and female haplogroup M — both of which are widespread across South and Central Asia.

There has been considerable mixing of genes with Europeans as well — thanks to mating (more politely called horizontal gene transfer) with the local population.

Among the gypsies then, some come from Central Asia, some owe their origin to South Asia and yet others from Anatolia — accounting for their subgroups?

Any highly inbred group tends to have its gene pool restricted. This would have the effect of distributing within itself the same sets of genes — many of which function normally and some that predispose the owner to certain traits — good and bad.

One might thus see familial or intra-community incidence of certain disorders or traits higher in proportion than in a community that admits genes from outside.

The gypsies, largely inbred, thus have certain traits that occur in a larger than random proportion.

The Australian researchers were able to show a particular mutation in the gene for the enzyme galactokinase to occur in a Roma gypsy family, leading to early childhood blindness (cataract) in the family.

Similarly, they showed a mutation associated with congenital myasthenia (born with weak muscles) in gypsies.

Their finding the same in some Indian/Pakistani chromosomes seem to be the best evidence yet of the subcontinental origin of gypsies. Sharing of mutations and displaying a high `carrier rate' support a strong founder effect.

The latest such genetic analysis comes from Dr. Subhabrata Chakrabarti of our own institute. He studies the genetic basis of childhood glaucoma.

In doing haplo-analysis of the Indian population in this connection, he finds that the haplotypes seen here are also found uniquely in the Roma gypsy patients — again a founder effect.

The work of these scientists, who study the language of the genes increasingly supports the contention of those who study the language of the spoken word that the gypsies migrated centuries ago from the Indian subcontinent.

Romany Gypsies came out of India

Origins and Divergence of the Roma (Gypsies)

Genetic studies of the Roma (Gypsies): a review

A founder mutation in the g-sarcoglycan gene of Gypsies possibly predating their migration out of India