Mitochondrial DNA Migration Map
If we were to ask a question like this to the public we would probably get an equal split between yes and no. Also many reasons will be given for the explanation of the answers. A question like this is a tough and a broad one; and must be approached by a consortium of Statisticians, Psychologists and Sociologists. However genetics can also have a say on this.
To come straight to the point: Mitochondrial DNA and the non-recombining regions of the Y chromosome can be used to determine the matrilineal and the patrilineal ancestry of an individual respectively. By analysing the variants in these uniparentally inherited DNA molecules people who shared a common ancestor many generations ago can be identified; and these individuals are usually clustered in ‘haplogroups’. Also by analysing the spread and frequency of haplogroups in different regions, we can deduce migrations and special events which occurred in human history.
When the spread of Y-DNA and mitochondrial (mtDNA) haplogroups are compared, we see that mtDNA haplogroups are more spread (and are less associated with a geographic region) than Y-DNA haplogroups indicating that women (who were our ancestors) in the past seems to have married more outside of their ethnic origin compared to males. This could probably be explained by the use of women when strengthening ties with other communities and monarchies in ancient times but the same might by said for males also. So (ancestral human) genetics gives some evidence towards the answer ‘yes’. More evidence from other fields are needed of course.
From what we read from the news, women from the poor parts of the world have a tendency to marry *foreign men for money and better life standards but there isn’t much statistical information on this, so cannot say anything definitive.
I suggest that scientists from different fields (like the above mentioned ones) come together and answer broad questions such as this; otherwise the correct answer will never be arrived at by a single field of science.
For more information about the use of genetics (i.e. mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome) when deducing maternal and paternal ancestry:
– www.eupedia.com/europe/origins_haplogroups_europe.shtml
– mesuturkey.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/are-europeans-turkish/
*’Foreign’ not just in terms of ethnicity but in a sense that women have to travel to another region to marry and live with these men.
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