Local history

Researchers believe that the people of Devon and Cornwall might have more in common than they think.

Three Oxford professors are undertaking a national study to draw up a genetic map of Britain.

To help them uncover our roots, they are taking blood samples to identify our ancestors.

And they believe the people of Devon and Cornwall might share the same Ancient Briton origins.

The samples have been taken from people living in rural areas, and whose parents and both sets of grandparents were also born within a small radius of the area. Before that era, there was little migration from many rural areas.

Are Ancient Britons on both sides of the Tamar?

While in other parts of the country the researchers expect to find Anglo Saxon or Viking heritage, in the far South West, they believe the genes might be those of Ancient Britons, as invaders who came ashore on the east coast didn't get this far.

One of the researchers is leading geneticist Professor Sir Walter Bodmer. He is keen to find out where the Ancient Briton genes begin to merge with Anglo Saxon DNA.

"I think you're unlikely to see a sharp change, it will be a gradual change from Ancient Britons in the west to Anglo Saxons in the east."

Evidence suggests that the Anglo Saxons had little impact west of the Tamar, and the researchers believe that western parts of Devon, in particular, will show the influence of Ancient Britons.

Sir Walter Bodmer

Just how far east these genes show up will be one of the key findings in the research.

"We know from history that there were people who came over to the British Isles after the last Ice Age 12,000 years ago. After that, there were not major invasions that would have an influence on the genetic make-up until the Anglo Saxons came.

"So we have an influence on the Atlantic side which we think represents  the Ancient Britons. What is often called the Celtic fringe should be called the Ancient British fringe really."

Despite the lapse of some 12,000 years, it's believed traces of Ancient Briton origins will still be evident.

Researchers visited Plymouth and Cornwall in February 2009 to take blood samples of people fitting the requirements for the study - around 200 samples were taken, 42 of which were from Devon.

The blood samples will be processed and the DNA extracted. The DNA results will then be studied by statisticians.

Sir Walter explained: "We collect a sample of blood to get the DNA, and the DNA - the blueprint of life - is what we study. It's the differences between people - and there are very many of them - that we study, and the sequence of the DNA."

The results should be known by late 2009.