Unravelling migrations in the steppe: mitochondrial DNA sequences from ancient Central Asians

Abstract

This study helps to clarify the debate on the Western and Eastern genetic influences in Central Asia. Thirty-six skeletal remains from Kazakhstan (Central Asia), excavated from different sites dating between the fifteenth century BC to the fifth century AD, have been analysed for the hypervariable control region (HVR-I) and haplogroup diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the mitochondrial DNA genome. Standard authentication criteria for ancient DNA studies, including multiple extractions, cloning of PCR products and independent replication, have been followed. The distribution of east and west Eurasian lineages through time in the region is concordant with the available archaeological information: prior to the thirteenth-seventh century BC, all Kazakh samples belong to European lineages; while later an arrival of east Eurasian sequences that coexisted with the previous west Eurasian genetic substratum can be detected. The presence of an ancient genetic substratum of European origin in West Asia may be related to the discovery of ancient mummies with European features in Xinjiang and to the existence of an extinct Indo-European language, Tocharian. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the ancient DNA in unravelling complex patterns of past human migrations so as to help decipher the origin of present-day admixed populations.

Ancient links between Siberians and Native Americans revealed by subtyping the Y chromosome haplogroup Q1a

“…In addition, ancient DNA studies demonstrate that West Eurasian admixture was present in South Siberia and Northwest China as early as the early Bronze Age, thus indicating that West Eurasian genetic input occurred earlier than the proposed relatively recent population admixture. [11][12][13][14] It is assumed that haplogroup P-92R7 consisting of subclades Q-M242 and R-M207 originated in Central Asia about 40 Ka. 15 Haplogroup Q-M242 is present in Eurasia, but it is most frequent in North Asia.…”

Iron Age nomads of southern Siberia in craniofacial perspective

“…The general consensus among these studies is that the mountain belt zone of southern Siberia is where populations began to expand into Eastern and Northern Europe following the Last Glacial Maximum. From the Mesolithic, the region of southern Siberia has witnessed extensive migrations, most notably (Clisson et al, 2002;Keyser Tracqui et al, 2003;LaluezaFox et al, 2004;Ricaut et al, 2004a, b;Chikisheva et al, 2007;Keyser et al, 2009;Pilipenko et al, 2010;Gonzalez-Ruiz et al, 2012). The general consensus among these studies is that the region of southern Siberia and Central Asia is quite diverse.…”

“…The Scythians are well known in historical texts and are one of a large number of tribes to have emerged from the Pontic-Caspian steppe and migrated eastward to the Altai from around 2000 BC. The end of the Scythian period was probably the result of the westward expansion of TurkoMongolic nomadic peoples from East Asia known as the Xiongnu (LaluezaFox et al, 2004). AlThough the Scythians may have played a role in Tagar development, there is abundant evidence to suggest that peoples of the Tuva region and peoples of the Pazyryk culture formed via a largely autochthonous component (Chikisheva, 2008).…”

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in prehispanic bone remains on the eastern Colombian Andes

“…Con el fin de elucidar la relación biológica entre los individuos precolombinos muiscas y 43 comunidades nativas americanas contemporáneas, y comparar cuatro poblaciones precolombinas antiguas (3,(19)(20)(21)(22)27,(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47) (cuadro 3), se calculó la frecuencia de los haplogrupos por conteo directo.…”