The University of Illinois study analyzed the Y chromosome, shedding light on the history of male Athapaskan migrants from northwestern North America to the southwestern states, the university said Tuesday in a news release. Previous genetic studies of this group -- now called Apacheans -- focused on mitochondrial DNA passed from mothers to children.

The Athapaskan migration is believed to have occurred about 500 years ago, researchers said..

The findings support the hypothesis that the Athapaskan migration involved a small group that was successful in assimilating with people living in the Southwest, researchers said.

Researchers checked genetic signatures on specific regions of the Y chromosomes from 26 native North American populations. Those who share many of the genetic signatures are more likely to share a recent common ancestor than those who don't, they said.

The study also revealed how pervasively European males mixed with native groups, said principal investigator Ripan Malhi, a molecular anthropologist at the university.

The findings are in the July issue of American Journal of Physical Anthropology.