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Cited by 76Forensic and Genetic ResearchGenetic diversity and population structureEurasian Exchange Networks

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Y-Chromosome Variation in Altaian Kazakhs Reveals a Common Paternal Gene Pool for Kazakhs and the Influence of Mongolian Expansions

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Abstract

Kazakh populations have traditionally lived as nomadic pastoralists that seasonally migrate across the steppe and surrounding mountain ranges in Kazakhstan and southern Siberia. To clarify their population history from a paternal perspective, we analyzed the non-recombining portion of the Y-chromosome from Kazakh populations living in southern Altai Republic, Russia, using a high-resolution analysis of 60 biallelic markers and 17 STRs. We noted distinct differences in the patterns of genetic variation between maternal and paternal genetic systems in the Altaian Kazakhs. While they possess a variety of East and West Eurasian mtDNA haplogroups, only three East Eurasian paternal haplogroups appear at significant frequencies (C3*, C3c and O3a3c*). In addition, the Y-STR data revealed low genetic diversity within these lineages. Analysis of the combined biallelic and STR data also demonstrated genetic differences among Kazakh populations from across Central Asia. The observed differences between Altaian Kazakhs and indigenous Kazakhs were not the result of admixture between Altaian Kazakhs and indigenous Altaians. Overall, the shared paternal ancestry of Kazakhs differentiates them from other Central Asian populations. In addition, all of them showed evidence of genetic influence by the 13(th) century CE Mongol Empire. Ultimately, the social and cultural traditions of the Kazakhs shaped their current pattern of genetic variation.

Overview

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TL;DR

High-resolution Y-chromosome analysis of Altaian Kazakhs shows low paternal diversity dominated by three East Eurasian haplogroups, with a shared paternal ancestry among Kazakh populations and evidence of 13th-century CE Mongol influence. The study argues that Kazakh social structure, patrilineal descent, and social selection helped shape this paternal gene pool.

Key findings

  • About 85% of Altaian Kazakh Y-chromosomes belonged to only three haplogroups: C3* (20.2%), C3c (39.5%), and O3a3c* (26.1%).
  • Among 119 Altaian Kazakh males, 51 Y-STR haplotypes were identified, but only two haplotypes were shared between the SW and SE Altai regions; reduced 5-STR analysis still showed significant differentiation (RST = 0.091; p = 0.005).
  • Altaian Kazakhs shared a common paternal ancestry with indigenous Kazakhs, but differed in haplogroup frequencies: C3c was 39.5% in Altaian Kazakhs versus 57.4% in indigenous Kazakh1, while O3a3c* was 26% versus 9%.
  • Coalescence estimates using pedigree mutation rates placed C3* and C3c at roughly 800 years ago, consistent with Mongol Empire expansion, while O3a3c* had a more recent TMRCA of approximately 400 years ago; the most frequent shared haplotype fell into the Genghis Khan haplotype cluster.

Methods

  • Blood samples from 119 unrelated male Altaian Kazakhs were collected from four locations in two regions of the Altai Republic, Russia, during field expeditions between 1991 and 2002.
  • The non-recombining Y-chromosome was characterized with 60 biallelic markers and 17 STRs, then compared with published Central Asian and Mongolian population data using reduced 14-haplogroup and 5- or 6-STR profiles.
  • Analyses included haplotype diversity, RST, PCA, MDS, AMOVA, median-joining networks, rho statistics, and Batwing coalescent dating.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the SW Altaian Kazakh sample was relatively small, so interpretations about its higher diversity and possible admixture should be cautious.
  • The paper cautions that Y-STR coalescence estimates depend on mutation-rate choice, have broad confidence intervals, and cannot precisely pinpoint lineage origins; it also notes possible sampling effects and calls for comprehensive sampling across Kazakhstan and Xinjiang.
  • Evident from the text: comparisons required reducing high-resolution data to 14 haplogroup clusters and 5–6 STR loci, which limits resolution relative to the full 60-marker/17-STR dataset.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0017548

Cites

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Figures

Figure 1 Kazakh populations analyzed in this study. The asterisks (*) denote the locations of Altaian Kazakh populations sampled for this study. The locations of comparative Kazakh populations are shown with each corresponding number: Altaian Kazakh [this study], Kazakh1 [10], [13], Kazakh2 [12], Kazakh3 [11], Kazakh4 [40], and Kazakh5 [41]. Kazakh1 represents samples that were collected from four locations [10], [13].
Figure 1 Kazakh populations analyzed in this study. The asterisks (*) denote the locations of Altaian Kazakh populations sampled for this study. The locations of comparative Kazakh populations are shown with each corresponding number: Altaian Kazakh [this study], Kazakh1 [10], [13], Kazakh2 [12], Kazakh3 [11], Kazakh4 [40], and Kazakh5 [41]. Kazakh1 represents samples that were collected from four locations [10], [13].CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Reduced median-median joining network of Altaian Kazakhs using 14-STR haplotypes.
Figure 2 Reduced median-median joining network of Altaian Kazakhs using 14-STR haplotypes.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Reduced median-median joining network of Altaian and Indigenous Kazakh populations using 5-STR haplotypes.
Figure 3 Reduced median-median joining network of Altaian and Indigenous Kazakh populations using 5-STR haplotypes.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Principal component analysis plot of genetic distances based on Y-chromosome haplogroup frequencies in Central Asian and Mongolian populations.
Figure 4 Principal component analysis plot of genetic distances based on Y-chromosome haplogroup frequencies in Central Asian and Mongolian populations.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Multidimensional scaling plot of RST values estimated from Y-STR haplotypes in Central Asian and Mongolian populations.
Figure 5 Multidimensional scaling plot of RST values estimated from Y-STR haplotypes in Central Asian and Mongolian populations.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

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Citations

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Metadata

Authors
Dulik, M. C., Osipova, L. P., & Schurr, T. G.
Affiliations
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • Institute of Cytology and Genetics (RU)
Corresponding author
Schurr, Theodore G.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2011-03-11
Volume
6
Issue
3
Pages
e17548
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1990735851
Cited by
76
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 7
FWCI
3.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • ScholarlyCommons (University of Pennsylvania) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • ScholarlyCommons (University of Pennsylvania) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (0726623)
  • National Geographic Society
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (412-2005-1004, MCRI 412-2005-1004)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Eurasian Exchange Networks
Keywords
Y-chromosome variation, Y-chromosome short tandem repeats, biallelic markers, C3c, genetic diversity, nomadic pastoralists, Altai
MeSH terms
Emigration and Immigration, Ethnicity, Fathers, Gene Pool, Genetics, Population, Geography, Haplotypes, Humans, Kazakhstan, Male, Mongolia, Phylogeny, Recombination, Genetic, Genetic Variation, Microsatellite Repeats, Principal Component Analysis, Chromosomes, Human, Y

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