We are interested in patterns of human genetic diversity, and how these are influenced by population-level processes including migration, social organisation, language and culture, as well as fundamental genome-level processes of mutation, copy number variation, gene conversion and recombination.

NRG YHG Distribution

We have focused on the diversity of the non-recombining region of the paternally inherited Y chromosome. Comparisons with maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA provide information about sex-biased population processes, and we are also studying the haplotype block structure of the autosomal and X-chromosomal genome, which provides phylogeographically informative markers.

Our current population studies are on Western Europe and the British Isles in particular, including patrilineal surnames as cultural markers of male coancestry. We collaborate with colleagues in History, Archaeology and English in a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the human past.

PhD projects are offered in these general areas; applicants are encouraged to think of projects that would match their own areas of interest and complement our other activities. Please contact me for further information or to discuss project ideas.

References

JOBLING, M.A, Hurles, M.E. and Tyler-Smith, C. (2004) Human Evolutionary Genetics: origins, peoples and disease. 523pp., Garland Science, New York.

Bowden, G.R., et al. (2008) Excavating past population structures by surname-based sampling: the genetic legacy of the Vikings in northwest England. Mol. Biol. Evol. 25, 301-309.

Adams, S.M., et al. (2008) The genetic legacy of religious diversity and intolerance: paternal lineages of Christians, Jews and Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula. Am. J. Hum. Genet., 83, 725-736.

King, T.E. and Jobling, M.A. (2009) Founders, drift and infidelity: the relationship between Y chromosome diversity and patrilineal surnames. Mol. Biol. Evol., 26, 1093-1102.

Rosser, Z.H., et al. (2009) Gene conversion between the X chromosome and the male-specific region of the Y chromosome at a translocation hotspot. Am. J. Hum. Genet., 85, 130-134

Balaresque, P., et al. (2010). A predominantly Neolithic origin for European paternal lineages. PLoS Biol., 8, e1000285.

See also references listed at: Laboratory webpages, and the Roots of the British collaboration at: Roots of the British Collaboration

Contact Details:

Professor Mark Jobling
Tel: +44 (0)116 252 3377
E-Mail: maj4@le.ac.uk