In the NRDI FK-127938 research project, we studied three selected contemporary Hungarianspeaking
populations of the Carpathian Basin, from the regions of Baranja (Croatia), Zobor-region
(Slovakia) and Székely Land (Romania), which had relatively isolated population history
in the last
centuries. Furthermore we examine ancient DNA of medieval Székely individuals from
Udvarhelyszék (Odorheiu Secuiesc) region, in order to gather genetic information from
Hungarianspeaking long-time residents of Transylvania and aim to monitor possible
continuity and
relationships of the region’s populations.
Here we provide 18 modern and 24 ancient whole-genome results (2.5-3x coverage for
the modern
samples and 0.3-0.9x coverage for the medieval samples) from the aforementioned regions
and
analysed 1240k SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in the context of geographically
and
historically relevant populations. We discuss how uniform or different these Hungarian-speaking
populations are genetically, and whether a regional genetic structure is observable.
A further aim
of our research was to unveil genetic relationships between ancient and recent populations.
Our
results demonstrate a predominantly local uniparental make-up of the populations and
indicate
limited admixture with neighbouring populations. Presumably due to intra-regional
movements,
there are no signs of inbreeding in the populations, but a signal of small population
size is present.
The whole genome results demonstrate the homogeneity and continuity of the medieval
Székely
population up to the recent Székely population.
The results open up new possibilities not only for research on recent populations,
but also for
comparative analyses of the genetic heritage of populations of historical age. The
research has a
wider social significance: it provides an opportunity to interpret the genetic composition
of
contemporary Hungarians in a geographical and historical context.
