Brahmin link to Roman Catholics of Goa, Kumta and Mangalore, says CCMB

HYDERABAD: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) scientists’ study found that the Roman Catholics of Goa, Kumta and Mangalore regions are the remnants of very early lineages of Brahmin community of India, majorly with Indo-European-specific genetic composition.
Published in “Human Genetics” journal on 23 August, the study also revealed the consequences of Portuguese Inquisition in Goa on the population history of Roman Catholics and also found indication of Jewish component.
Dr Kumarasamy Thangaraj, chief scientist said, “The Roman Catholic is one such distinct group, whose origin is much debated. Some historians and anthropologists relate them to ancient group of Gaud Saraswat. Others believe they are members of the Jews Lost Tribes in the first century migration to India. Till date, no genetic study was done on this group to infer their origin and genetic history. This is the first high throughput study by CCMB and DST of Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences , Lucknow.”
Researchers analysed DNA of 110 individuals from Roman Catholic community of Goa, Kumta and Mangalore, and compared the genetic information of the Roman Catholic group with previously published DNA data from India and West Eurasia.
The other institutes involved in this study are Mangalore University, Canadian Institute for Jewish Research and Institute of Advanced Materials, Sweden.