Date:

The genes from Icelanda’s first settlers reveal the origin of their population in detail

This is one of the main conclusions of a study carried out by an international team of scientists which included members of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). For the first time, the researchers, whose results are published in the journal Science, analysed the ancient genomes of 25 individuals who lived in Iceland during the colonisation of the island.

- Advertisement -

With a population of 330,000, Iceland is a country with its own peculiarities. Genes are no exception: isolation and inbreeding throughout its history make this northern Atlantic island a paradise for genetic studies.

The analysis of ancient skeletal remains- more specifically the teeth belonging to the first generations to populate the island- has shed more light on the genetic evolution which led to a combination of genes coming from Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia. According to the conclusions of this study, the Norwegian genetic fingerprint of present day Icelanders stands at 70%, while, in the case of the island’s original founders, it was 57%.

As CSIC researcher Carles Lalueza-Fox, who works at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (a joint institute between CSIC and Pompeu Fabra University) explains, “This work takes an in-depth look at the process which makes small, isolated populations go through random changes in their genetic variability over time. Present-day Icelanders have been affected by 1,100 years of profound genetic drift. This means they are more similar to each other, yet different to modern populations of continental Europe.”

Gender bias

- Advertisement -

The work, led by researchers from deCODE Genetics- the biotechnology company based in Reykjavik which claims to have genealogical records going back for up to seven centuries in the history of most families on the island, confirms a gender bias in Iceland’s population.

“The settlers of Celtic origin had fewer offspring compared with those of Norwegian origin. This is probably because there were more men of Scandinavian origin compared to more women – who would probably have come to the country as slaves and servants – from Scotland and the rest of Britain,” explains Lalueza-Fox.

“We have always known that Icelanders descended from Norwegians and Celts, and the analysis of the ancient genomes from the first colonists allows us to see what they were like, both before mixing started, as well as throughout the whole process,” explains Sunna Ebeneserdóttir, a researcher from deCODE Genetics. “It’s like having a time machine. Now it is possible to study the actual people who participated in the founding of Iceland,” adds Agnar Helgason, also from deCODE Genetics, and another of the study’s authors.

Iceland, a genetic laboratory

These results provide a detailed view of the origin of a human population, an aspect, according to scientists, which is key to discovering associations of genotype (genetic information in the form of DNA) and phenotype (the expression of the genotype plus the influence of the mean) to continue making advances in finding ways to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases.

“Iceland is big enough for the diseases that affect Europeans to be represented, yet small enough to easily carry out genetic studies which lead to discovering the roots of these complex pathologies. In the not too distant future, we will be able to study the actual individuals who had a certain mutation 1,000 years ago and make a comparison with current patients”, concludes the CSIC researcher.

SPANISH NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (CSIC)

Header Image Credit : NASA

- Advertisement -

Stay Updated: Follow us on iOS, Android, Google News, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and our newsletter

spot_img
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is a multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
spot_img
spot_img

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

Hidden Medieval tower unearthed in Lublin reveals forgotten chapter of city’s past

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a previously undocumented medieval tower within the grounds of the former Pobernardine monastery complex, near the Church of the Conversion of Saint Paul on Bernardyńska Street.

Sinkhole reveals lost remains of medieval hospital

A sinkhole that formed outside the York Theatre Royal has led to the discovery of what could be one of England’s largest medieval hospitals.

Chalcolithic cultural treasures unearthed in Caucasus

Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences have uncovered 13 Chalcolithic-era sites, each yielding a wealth of cultural artefacts and material evidence.

Study reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid spear sheath

In 1954, a bronze spear sheath dating from Japan’s Kofun period (AD 300–538) was found beneath a rock on Okinoshima, a sacred island located off the coast of Munakata, Fukuoka.

Cache of military helmets from both World Wars discovered during roadworks

Road construction works in the Polish city of Wroclaw have unearthed an unusual cache of military objects from WWI and WWII.

Ten Roman wonders of Britain

Discover the Roman Empire’s extraordinary legacy left on Britain through this selection of ten Roman wonders.

New archaeological treasures unearthed at Finziade

Archaeologists excavating at Finziade in southern Italy have unearthed an artisan workshop and a domestic sacellum containing archaeological treasures.

Significant multi-period discoveries in Delbrück-Bentfeld

An archaeological excavation in Delbrück-Bentfeld, a town in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has unearthed nearly 400 features of archaeological interest that span several centuries.