Y-CHROMOSOME-SPECIFIC HAPLOTYPE DIVERSITY IN ASHKENAZIC AND SEPHARDICJEWS

DNA samples from Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews were studied with Y-chr omosome-specific DNA probes p49f and p49a to screen for RFLPs and hapl otypes. All 16 European haplotypes were found in Jews, but only 2 of t hem (VII and VIII) were widespread. Haplotype distributions in the two Jewish populations are similar, but haplotypes XI and XV are more fre quent in the Ashkenazim and haplotypes IV and V are more frequent in t he Sephardim, indicating their origins.