There has been much interest in the pre hispanic settlers of the Canary Islands, just where did the Guanches originate from?
Recent advances in technology have now made it possible to carry out detailed genetic studies, using indigenous and historical 17th-18th century remains and mitochondrial DNA as a female marker.
The results of the study show that Autochthonous (E-M81) and prominent (E-M78 and J-M267) Berber Y-chromosone lineages were detected confirming a North West African origin for the ancestors which agrees with earlier test results.
But what was interesting with these tests was the fact that the female lineages have survived through to present day population, but the male indigenous lineages have steadily declined being substituted by European lineages.
The study was compiled by Rosa Fregel, Veronica Gomes, Leonor Gusmao, Ana Gonzalez, Vicente Cabrera, Antonio Amorim, Jose Larruga and announced by 7th Space.
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