According to the Tirana Genetics Laboratory results, the genetic mutation Delta F508 was found in 78% of a group Albanians tested randomly. Researchers say this supports the theory that we descended from the northern parts of the continent.
This was the first ever genetic research of this type in Albania. The testing was carried out using a group of 50/50 males and females. Obviously the results were somewhat unsuspected.
According to the researchers the genetic mutation Delta F508, is present at levels of 50% in the Mediterranean populations, meanwhile this same mutation is present at levels of over 70% in the northern European inhabitants. Therefore they concluded that our descent leans more on the northern side, without too many links to our Balkan neighbors. The researchers claimed that these results speak louder about our descent as northern-Europeans.
These results further sustain the theses of the Albanian scholar Eqerem Çabej, who found commonalities between our people and those of northern Europe. Also, according to the Albanian scholar Moikom Zeqo, thousands of years ago there were waves of migrations by the indo-european peoples toward the south of the Balkan peninsula, and it is very possible that Albanians are descendens of those tribes, relatives of the Germanic ones.
Personally I have still to see some more research done in this regard as the sample data is not considerable, nevertheless very interesting indeed.
Very interessant. Can you give the precise reference of this study ?
This was a translation of a report done by Vision Plus TV in Albania during one of their news editions, however, I don’t have more information than that. I too would love to get some more sources, but went ahead and posted it to may be get people’s feedback and ideas about its veracity.
interesting , so i am albanian -german and we came here with greeks . but if greeks came from north , we came from north and serbs came from russia , who populated balcan thousands of years ago when we were still in north
Elisa forgive me for going off at a tangent but I am in the process of considering a relocation to Albania to work over there. I originate from the UK but I am working and living in another EU country at the moment.
I am struggling to find much information about Albania on the Net and what there is (or what I can find) is somewhat sparse. Is this because the Net is no quite so advanced in Albania? I accept it’s going to be very different to what I am used to but that is part of the attraction but I need a source of reliable information so I can make informed decisions. Can you recommend any sites (English language please) or is there a site where I could chat to Albanians to glean some information?
Regards and thanks
Goronwy
Dear Goronwy,
my guess is there is good information about Albania if you know where to look. The number of expats living here has grown and some of them publish their own blogs and there are other websites (in English) that can provide you with plenty such information.
I will go ahead and write a blog post about this and as other people to contribute to the list of websites as well.
Best regards,
Elvis
We albanians clearly have a northern european linkage but, it could be about 35% of our being. A good majority, roughly 50% is clear, cristal clear mediterranean. This mixture makes us distinguishable. I can spot an albanian folk here in new york 80% accurately without knowing them.
Hi,
I have been told that I have Albanian ancestors who migrated to Greci, Italy to escape the Muslins who were killing Christians. Can you tell me if the surname of Gliatta still exist in Albania?
Thanks you ,
Louise
Hi Louise,
thanks for writing. I’m not sure exactly how your last name might have morphed (changed) throughout the yours, from its previous form. A common Albanian last name is “gjata”, which when pronounced could then mistakenly be written down different than its current form. But again I am not exactly sure.
Thanks Elvis….my other ancestor from Albania were Vara, Bina and Pucci.
Do any of these sound familiar?
Hi, Vara is a well known historical last name from the time of Scanderbeg but for the other names you would have to do some research and I am not an etymologist.
Luoise
gjuha or language is called gluha among Arberesh so gjata in my opinion is glata with an ‘i’ added as time went.
Gjata means ‘the tall one’ and gjate /i gjate means tall