Research Reveals Close Genetic Ties Between Yoruba and Igbo
Genetic studies show that Yoruba and Igbo populations have the highest level of similarity among major Nigerian ethnic groups. Various DNA markers reflect their shared linguistic roots in the Volta-Niger branch. Key findings include a similarity index of 0.993, an average Fixation Index below 0.4%, and the dominant Y-chromosome haplogroup E1b1a1-M2. Mitochondrial DNA patterns and PCA clustering also place these groups distinctly together. Experts estimate a common ancestry dating back 2,000 to 5,000 years near the Niger-Benue confluence. Historical gene flow and cultural practices like patrilocality helped maintain this genetic bond over millennia.
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