People of African origin have lived in Britain for centuries,
according to genetic evidence. The connection was found to date
back many generations A Leicester University study found that
seven men with a rare Yorkshire surname carry a genetic
signature previously found only in people of African origin. The
men seem to have shared a common ancestor in the 18th Century,
but the African DNA lineage they carry may have reached Britain
centuries earlier. Details of the study appear in the European
Journal of Human Genetics. The scientists declined to disclose
the men's surname in order to protect their anonymity. The
discovery came out of genetic work looking at the relationship
between the male, or Y, chromosome and surnames. The Y
chromosome is a package of genetic material normally found only
in males. It is passed down from father to son, more or less
unchanged, just like a surname. But over time, the Y chromosome
accumulates small changes in its DNA sequence, allowing
scientists to study the relationships be