DNA analysis proves that Egyptians
are not Arabs
After over 10 years of analyzing
DNA samples from hundreds of people, the National Geographic Genographic
Project (NGGP) surprisingly uncovered the fact that Egyptians are not Arabs as
most of them believed.
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| Egyptian Girls |
As the graph below shows, only 17
percent of Egyptians are Arabs " )Arab invasion by "Amr Ebn El-As" 642AD), while 68 percent of the indigenous population
is from North Africa, four percent are from Jewish (Philistine) ancestry, three percent are
of East African origins, another three percent from Asia Minor and three
percent are South European (Greek & Roman occupation).
The Egyptian population presented
by genetic origin
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| Egyptian Nomad in desert 68% north African |
"This reference population is
based on native Egyptians. As ancient populations migrated from Africa, they
passed first through northeast Africa, then to southwest Asia. The Northern
Africa and Arabian components in Egypt are representative of that ancient migratory
route, as well as later migrations from the Fertile Crescent (Palestine/ Syria) back into Africa;
with the spread of agriculture over the past 10,000 years, and migrations in
the seventh century, with the spread of Islam from the Arabian Peninsula,"
the NGGP study said.
The East African component in the
Egyptian genes reflects the localized movement up the navigable Nile River,
according to the NGGP; while the Southern Europe and Asia Minor components
reflect the geographic and historical role of Egypt as a key player in the
economic and cultural growth of the Mediterranean region.
The DNA samples proved that
Kuwaitis are mostly Arabs, as their genetic makeup is as follows: 84 percent of
Kuwaitis are Arabs, seven percent are from Asia Minor, four percent are North
African and three percent from East Africa.
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| Typical Egyptian Men |
The NGGP said that as ancient
migrants passed through the Middle East when moving from Africa to Asia, some
of them decided to stay, developing their genetic patterns that were passed
down to other generations. While there is small percentage from North and East
Africa, maybe due to the Arab slave trade which was common from the 8th to
the19th century.
Meanwhile the Lebanese society is
the most diverse among Arab countries, as 44 percent are of Arab origins, 14
percent are Jewish, 11 percent are from North African descent, 10 percent are
from Asia Minor, five percent are South European and only two percent are East
African.
The Tunisian population had the
lowest percentage from Arab descent, as only 4 percent are Arabs, while 88
percent are North African, five percent are from Western Europe, and two
percent from West and Central Africa.
Original article by: Hend El-Behary
