Mirandese language and genetic differentiation in Iberia: a study using X chromosome markers

Abstract

Background: In the Iberian Peninsula, the Mirandese dialect, spoken in Miranda do Douro (Portugal) close to the north-eastern border with Spain, has attracted much attention.

Aim, subjects and methods: This study focuses on providing further insight into the connections forged between Miranda do Douro and regions in the nearby Province of Zamora. This is in order to better assess the extent to which such relations could have been detained by the current patterns of genetic diversity of the populations, whilst contributing to refining the knowledge on patterns of micro-differentiation within the Peninsula. The genetic characterization of both populations was performed through the analysis of X-chromosomal markers: X-STRs and X-indels.

Results and conclusion: The results showed that Miranda do Douro tended to present slightly lower levels of diversity in comparison to the other studied regions, which can be a discreet sign of isolation of that population over the years that might have led the way to the preservation of a language not spoken anywhere else in the country. The analysis of X-STRs particularly brought to light the presence of a subtle population sub-structure at the micro-geographical area encompassing the north-eastern border, which seems to portray the importance of the political border as a mechanism withholding gene flow between the two countries.

• Genetic micro-differentiation
• Iberian dialects
• X chromosome markers

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by FCT, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, financed by the European Social Funds (COMPETE-FEDER), project and SLM grant (PTDC/ATP-DEM/4545/2012). LA (SFRH/BPD/65000/2009), VP (SFRH/BD/70881/2010 are supported by FCT fellowships and funded by POPH-QREN – Promotion of scientific employment, supported by the European Social Fund and national funds of the Ministry of Education and Science. IPATIMUP is an Associate Laboratory of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and is partially supported by FCT.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.