Towards a Full-Length Y-Chromosome DNA Sequence of Napoléon the First: Beyond the E-M34 SNP Sub- Haplogroup

Research Article

Austin J Genet Genomic Res. 2015; 2(2): 1015.

Towards a Full-Length Y-Chromosome DNA Sequence of Napoléon the First: Beyond the E-M34 SNP Sub- Haplogroup

Gérard Lucotte¹*, Peter Hrechdakian² and Denis Savard³

¹Institute of Molecular Anthropology, Paris, France

²Unifert Group S.A, Belgium

³469 Chemin Thériault / Bertrand, N.-B. E1W1K5, Canada

*Corresponding author: Gérard Lucotte, Institute of Molecular Anthropology, 44 Monge Street, 75 005 Paris, France

Received: December 22, 2015; Accepted: December 28, 2015; Published: December 31, 2015

Abstract

We report results obtained for the Y-chromosome DNA sequence of Mike Clovis (M.C.), a living fifth generation descendant of Lucien who was one of Napoléon the First (1769-1821)’s brothers. We have previously shown that the Y-haplogroup of Napoléon is E1b1b2a1, SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) M34 being the terminal genetic marker of this differentiation (Y sub-haplogroup E-M3, in abbreviate). Results obtained here show that there are six successive SNPs (Z841, L791, Y4971, Y4976, Y4970 and PH3893) under M34 in the Y-DNA sequence of M.C. Dating of the corresponding sub-haplogroups shows that E-PH3893 had a TMRCA (Time of the Most Common Recent Ancestor) of about 2700 ybp (years before present). This study permits a better understanding of the paternal ancestry of Napoléon in historical times.

Keywords: Napoléon the First paternal ancestry; Y-chromosome DNA sequence; Single nucleotide polymorphisms; Y-chromosome sub-haplogroups; Time of the most common recent ancestor

Introduction

Mike Clovis (M.C.), is a living fifth generation descendant (Figure 1) of Lucien, one of Napoléon Bonaparte’s brothers. As part of Napoléon I Genome (NIG) project we have sequenced the DNA of the Y-chromosome of M.C., in order to obtain pertinent information about Napoléon’s Y-chromosome.

Our work on Napoléon Y-DNA markers had begun [1] with the obtaining of genomic DNA from authentic Napoléon’s hairs conserved in the Vivant Denon reliquary [2]. Ten successive SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) of the Y-chromosome (M125, M174, M33, M35, M78, M81, M123, M34, M84 and M290) were used to determine Napoléon’s Y-haplogroup, that is E1b1b1c1 according to the human Y-chromosomal haplogroup tree [3]; further studies showed that the SNP M34 is the terminal genetic marker of this differentiation, so [4] the corresponding Napoléon Y-chromosome sub-haplogroup was at that time E1b1b1b2a1 (E-M34 in abbreviate).

In this initial study [1] on Napoléon Y-chromosome, only three Y-STRs (Short Tandem Repeats) were used: DYS19 and YCAII.a and .b (palindromics), the respective allelic values obtained being = 13, 19 and 22. Computed with the haplogroup predictor program [5], these three values considered together estimate that Napoléon I corresponds (with a probable value of 76.5%) to a subject belonging to the previously described Y-haplogroup cluster E1b1b [6]. In that study [1] we determine also allelic values for 37 Y-STRs from buccal smear genomic DNA extracted from Charles Napoléon, the living 4th generation descendant of Jérôme Bonaparte (Figure 1), Napoléon I’s youngest brother. Results showed the allelic values for DYS19 and for YCAII.a and .b are the same for Charles Napoléon and for Napoléon I. Computed with [5], Charles Napoléon’s Y-STR profile is very highly indicative (99.9%) of the E1b1b1c1 Y-haplogroup ; as Charles Napoléon is M34+ , his Y-sub-haplogroup is also E-M34.

In our second study on Y-polymorphisms in Napoléon I’s family [7] we have compared, on a total set of one-hundred and thirty three different Y-STRs, the Y-STR profile of Charles Napoléon to that of Alexandre Colonna Walewsky (who is also E-M34), the living 5th generation direct descendant of Napoléon I (Figure 1). Four nonpalindromic and two palindromic STRs have different allelic values between Alexandre Colonna Walewsky for 106 Y-STRs. In our third study [8] comparing Mike Clovis (also E-M34), Charles Napoléon and Alexandre Colonna Walewsky for 106 Y-STRs, we found variable allelic values between these three subjects for 7 STRs only: for DYS442, DYS447, DYS454, DYS481, DYS635, DYS712 and CDY. a (palindromic). All the observed identical STRs allelic values between the three living subjects, were used to predict the corresponding deduced allelic values for Napoléon I’s STRs. A direct determination of allelic values for 16 STRs of Napoléon [9], determinations that were done on Napoléon I genomic DNA extracted from dandruffs adherent to a Napoléon’s lock of hair dating from the year 1811, allow us to obtain the real allelic values of Napoléon’s STRs for 15 supplementary STRs (allelic value at DYS19 confirmed) others than the three found initially [1].