Are today's Macedonian generations successors of Alexander The Great?

Macedonian Information Agency (Oct 31, 2002, 5:39:22 AM (GMT+01:00)) (MIA)  SKOPJE, Macedonia - Expert team from the Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics within the Medicine Faculty from Skopje led by PhD Mirko Spiroski will take samples from the persons living in the villages around Vardarski Rid locality.

This is part of the project of British researcher Matthew Lemming, who will try to determine scientifically whether today's Macedonian generations are successors of Alexander the Great.

"Lemming wants to compare the Y-chromosome markers of people believed to be successors of Alexander's army in Afghanistan and of today's Macedonians with the Phillip's vertebra discovered in Pela," Spiroski told MIA.

Therefore, samples are being taken from men living in "typical places."

"In this case, the typical places are in the southern part of Macedonia, around Ohrid and Vevcani, the villages around Vardarski Rid, where the excavations are most similar to those in Pela as well as the three isolates in Radovo, Nova Maala and Strumica Maalo, where so called Bezanci live. It is believed that Bezanci have escaped from Edessa (Voden) and Kastoria (Kostur) into Macedonia. Practically the entire research is located in the southern Macedonia, i.e. those parts that are closer to Aegean Macedonia," Spiroski said.

At least 30 samples should be taken from each of these places.

The Immunobiology and Human Genetics Institute has thousand samples from all over Macedonia, "but the samples from the selected regions are more interesting as they come from closed areas, where the local residents mingled among each others."

Spiroski thinks that the work will be completed in three days, but it can be prolonged only if samples should be taken from persons, who originate from Edessa and are living in Skopje nowadays.

"Lemming is associate of London Royal College of Anthropology, which is very important institution and from genetics aspect this research can be very useful for finding out more information about the past," Spiroski said.

Although the Genetics Research Institute within the Macedonian Academy for Science and Art thinks that a license is necessary for conducting the research, Spiroski believes that it would not be necessary as long as the research is carried out in cooperation with any Macedonian institution, it is transparent and it is in compliance with the international regulations.

The Immunobiology Institute is involved in Lemming's research because similar examination has been already carried out for the domestic population.

The persons that donate genetic material must be fully informed about the procedure and should confirm their willingness to participate.

The results cannot be destroyed, but the personal data can be erased and then they can be treated as anonymous.

Lemming takes samples from the oral cavity (i.e. oral cavity smear and isolates DNA from the cells), while in the mean time the Immunobiology Institute with a prior consent of the examined person deposits the genetic material in the Macedonian Bank for Human DNA.

"In that way, in the future we can compare the results, repeat the examination or even make other examinations on the same persons," Spiroski stressed.

According to Spiroski, this is an exceptionally significant project, regardless of the results, as for the first time the markers of Y-chromosome are compared with a population that it is believed to have a similar origin with the antique Macedonians and indirectly it can be concluded whether these two populations are related.

Spiroski suggests that the Macedonian public should be aware of the necessity of these researches, as the results are significant both for the medicine and the historical past.

We are open for cooperation with the international institutions, such as London Royal College for Anthropology and we collect genetic material that can be used for various examinations. We follow the regulations and provide objective results as they can be always checked in the future, because the samples can be used in the next 20 to 50 years, Spiroski said.

According to him, this research is important, as the objective conclusions should replace the political fanaticism, which is present among certain circles in Macedonia, but also from scientific aspect to reveal what was the past of the Macedonians.

This investigation is not sufficient, "but every beginning is very important, because it opens the doors for other examinations," Spiroski said.

After the samples are taken, Lemming and Immunobiology Institute will exchange photocopies from their full documentation.

The results from the London College will be submitted to Skopje Institute.

"It is unreasonable to do the same examination, because the genetic material will give the same results. But we can always do a reexamination with the stored samples. For instance, if certain questions arise on this issue between Macedonia and Greece, then the examination can be repeated in an independent laboratory," Spiroski said.

Speaking of the future cooperation, Spiroski said that he would visit Afghanistan along with Lemming in December or January.

"BBC intends to make a program about the research, and in the future we can also make our own independent researches," Spiroski said, emphasizing that it is very important for Macedonia to be part of this international project.

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