London - Welsh and Irish people with Celtic roots are genetic blood-brothers of Spanish Basques, scientists said yesterday. Researchers discovered that all share "strikingly similar" gene patterns that are passed down the male line.
The findings provide the first direct evidence of a close relationship between the Celts and the Basques. Previous research hinted at a Celtic-Basque connection dating back tens of thousands of years. The new evidence emerges from a study by scientists at University College London, Oxford University and the University of California at Davis.