We examined a set of populations mainly from Europe but also from the Middl
e East and North Africa for the three Y-linked microsatellites YCAII, DYS19
(about 1300 individuals) and DYS392 (about 350 individuals), Three markers
(YCAII a5-b1 Ht, DYS19-190 bp and DYS392-254 bp) show decreasing gradients
of frequency from western Europe towards the Middle East which parallel th
at of the proto-European 49a,f/TaqI Ht 15. Indeed, a strong linkage disequi
librium between these markers and the 49a,f Ht 15 is observed, We therefore
suggest that the 49a,f/TaqI Ht 15, YCAII a5-b1 Ht, DYS19-190 bp and DYS392
-254 bp Y chromosome could represent a component of the proto-European gene
pool. This European specific compound haplotype distinctively characterise
s western Europeans and its very high incidence in these populations (parti
cularly in the Basques) is discussed.