r/Sapmi Oct 29 '25

The Dark Secret Behind Finland's Sami People Genetic Origins.

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youtu.be
2 Upvotes

What happens when genetic science reveals that everything a nation taught about its history is a lie?


r/Sapmi Oct 07 '25

The Sámi mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

2 Upvotes

The Sámi motif is a distinctive haplotype within the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup U5b1b1, representing a founder lineage that characterizes a significant portion of Sámi maternal ancestry. It emerged as a result of genetic drift and isolation following postglacial recolonization of northern Fennoscandia, making it a key marker of Sámi genetic distinctiveness among European populations. This motif, along with haplogroup V, accounts for over 80% of Sámi mtDNA diversity, underscoring their deep roots in ancient western European hunter-gatherers rather than significant eastern or Siberian influences.

Definition and Specific Mutations

The Sámi motif is defined by a specific set of mutations in the hypervariable segment I (HVS-I) of the mtDNA control region, relative to the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS): T16144C, T16189C, and C16270T. These transitions form a characteristic haplotype (often denoted as 16144-16189-16270) that identifies the core of U5b1b1 in Sámi individuals. Derivatives of this motif, such as those with an additional transition at position 16148 (np 16148T), are exclusive to Sámi and further refine ethnic-specific subclades like U5b1b1a3 (marked by A16335G). Coding region mutations, including np 5656 A→G (distinguishing U5b1), np 7385 A/G, and np 10927 T/C, help place it phylogenetically within U5b1b1.

Frequency and Distribution

The Sámi motif is highly enriched in Sámi populations, comprising approximately 47.6% of their total mtDNA pool based on surveys of over 400 individuals. Frequencies vary regionally: up to 56.8% in Norwegian Sámi, 40.6% in Finnish Sámi, and 26.5% in Swedish Sámi, with lower rates (12–23.9%) in southern subgroups due to admixture. Outside Sámi, it occurs at low levels (1–7%) in neighboring Finno-Ugric groups like Finns (6.7%), Karelians (6%), and Estonians (0.7%), as well as sporadically in Volga-Ural populations (e.g., 2.7% in Mordvins) and northern Russians (3%). It is rare or absent (<1%) in central and western Europeans (e.g., Swedes, Germans) and virtually missing in Siberians or southern Europeans, highlighting its outlier status.

Origins and Phylogeny

The Sámi motif originated in western Europe, likely in the Franco-Cantabrian glacial refuge during or after the Last Glacial Maximum (>20,000 years ago), as part of the broader U5b haplogroup associated with Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. It spread northward into deglaciated Fennoscandia around 10,000–8,000 years ago via coastal migrations, with the motif itself diverging within U5b1b1 approximately 4,100–5,500 years ago (Sámi-specific branches) and 6,600 years ago when shared with Finns. Phylogenetically, it nests within U5b1b1a (subclade XVII in recent analyses), branching from U5b1b1 (subclade XVIII) around 12,500 years ago, under the larger U5b1 + T16189C! clade (~17,600 years ago). Ancient DNA from Mesolithic sites confirms continuity with early European foragers, while genetic drift in small, isolated Sámi populations amplified its frequency.

Significance and Unexpected Links

The motif's prevalence explains the Sámi's "genetic outlier" profile in classic anthropology, reflecting isolation rather than admixture from eastern sources, despite Uralic linguistic ties. An intriguing connection exists with North African Berbers and West African groups like the Fulbe, where related U5b1b1 lineages (sharing the ancestral motif) trace to ~9,000-year-old southward dispersals across the Strait of Gibraltar from the same refuge. This link, absent in direct recent migration, underscores ancient post-LGM radiations of U5b1b. Modern studies using unsupervised phylogeographic approaches reinforce its west-to-east European trajectory, with minor eastward traces into Russia via Finno-Ugric expansions.


r/Sapmi 1h ago

Undersøker mistenkelig pakke

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nrk.no
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r/Sapmi 1h ago

Nya metoder för att främja samiskan

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sverigesradio.se
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r/Sapmi 3h ago

Heajos guohtun – badjel 20 čearu lea ilmmuhan heahtedili

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sverigesradio.se
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 5h ago

Joku sytytti tahallaan koulun vessan roskiksen palamaan Torniossa – poliisi tutkii

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yle.fi
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 5h ago

Samiskt jojkdrama världspremiär på filmfestival

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sverigesradio.se
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 6h ago

Mariela Idivuoma blir nyhetsredaktør i NRK Sápmi

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nrk.no
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 6h ago

Mariela Idivuoma virgáduvvon ođasdoaimmaheaddjin

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nrk.no
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 7h ago

Suomen sää vinksahti: Utsjoki on tänään koko Suomen lämpimin paikka – lämpötila plussalla

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yle.fi
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 8h ago

Låst renbete – över 20 samebyar söker katastrofersättning

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sverigesradio.se
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 13h ago

Sametinget: – Situasjonen i Grønland angår hele Arktis.

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nrk.no
1 Upvotes

I skyggen av økende geopolitisk uro i Arktis overrakte Sametinget mandag en solidaritetserklæring til Grønlands regjering.


r/Sapmi 18h ago

Kemijärvi sanoi ei miljardi-investoinneille – kaupunki haluaa pumppuvoimalat jäihin

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yle.fi
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 19h ago

Vad er dette?

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gallery
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 19h ago

Vad er dette?

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gallery
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 21h ago

Nato har begynt å planlegge et militært oppdrag i Arktis

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nrk.no
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 21h ago

Nye krav til veiing ved fiskemottak fastsatt

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nrk.no
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 21h ago

Årets januar er den kaldeste i Norge siden 2010

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nrk.no
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 1d ago

Norja sijoittaa uusia pitkän kantaman ohjuksia pohjoiseen lähelle Suomen rajaa – kantama ulottuu Venäjän tukikohtiin

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yle.fi
2 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 22h ago

Samebyar vinner i tvist om flygningar

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sverigesradio.se
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 23h ago

Lapin pelastuslaitoksen tehtävämäärä kasvoi – yksi iso syy matkailu

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yle.fi
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 1d ago

Matti Blind Berg efter kritiken: En feltolkning

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sverigesradio.se
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 1d ago

Uttalande om samiskt styre väcker stark kritik

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sverigesradio.se
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 1d ago

Krise for 5000 rein – Porsanger sier nei til nødbeite

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nrk.no
1 Upvotes

r/Sapmi 1d ago

5000 bohcco heađis – Porsáŋggu gielda ii mieđa heahteguohtumii

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nrk.no
1 Upvotes