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The Y-chromosome C3* Star-Cluster Attributed to Genghis Khan's Descendants is Present at High Frequency in the Kerey Clan from Kazakhstan
Open accessAbstract
To verify the possibility that the Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan and his patrilineal descendants is relatively frequent in the Kereys, who are the dominant clan in Kazakhstan and in Central Asia as a whole, polymorphism of the Y-chromosome was studied in Kazakhs, represented mostly by members of the Kerey clan. The Kereys showed the highest frequency (76.5%) of individuals carrying the Y-chromosome variant known as C3* star-cluster ascribed to the descendants of Genghis Khan. C3* star-cluster haplotypes were found in two subclans, Abakh-Kereys and Ashmaily-Kereys, diverged about 20-22 generations ago according to the historical data. Median network of the Kerey star-cluster haplotypes at 17 STR loci displays a bipartite structure, with two subclusters defined by the only difference at the DYS448 locus. Noteworthy is a strong correspondence of these subclusters with the Kerey subclans affiliation. The data obtained suggest that the Kerey clan appears to be the largest known clan in the world descending from a common Y-chromosome ancestor. Possible ways of Genghis Khan's relationship to the Kereys are discussed.
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TL;DR
The study reports that the Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster, previously attributed to Genghis Khan’s patrilineal descendants, is present at high frequency in the Kazakh Kerey clan, especially the Kerey-Abakh sub-clan. The authors suggest the Kerey clan may be the largest known clan descending from a common Y-chromosome ancestor and discuss possible historical links between Genghis Khan and the Keraits/Kereys.
Key findings
- Among 57 Kazakh males, 40 (70.2%) carried C3* star-cluster haplotypes; among 51 Kereys, 39 (76.5%) carried them.
- Frequency was 89.3% (25/28) in Kerey-Abakh and 55.0% (11/20) in Kerey-Ashmaily.
- The median network of Kerey star-cluster haplotypes was bipartite, defined by DYS448-22 versus DYS448-23; all Kerey-Abakh belonged to the DYS448-23 subcluster, while all but one Kerey-Ashmaily belonged to the DYS448-22 subcluster.
- Divergence time for the two Kerey sub-clan haplotype groups was estimated as 630 ± 190 years, or approximately 21 ± 6 generations, using a mutation rate of 0.0033 and a 30-year generation time.
Methods
- A total of 57 hair-root samples were collected from Kazakh males, including 51 members of the Kerey clan, with ethical approval and informed consent.
- DNA was typed at 17 Y-chromosome STR loci and assayed for SNP markers defining haplogroup C and subgroups C1–C3f; C3* paragroup included haplotypes outside SNP-defined subgroups C3a–f.
- Median-joining networks were constructed with Network 4.6; DYS385a/b were excluded, DYS389II was calculated by subtracting DYS389I, and divergence time was estimated assuming STR variance at population subdivision began at zero.
Limitations
- The paper states there is no reliable information on the distribution of DYS448 alleles in Mongol populations; the available Khalkh data in YHRD were unpublished and not fully accessible, so the distribution of C3*-DYS448 alleles in Central Asia and Mongolia could not be estimated.
- The paper states that its two hypotheses about Genghis Khan’s relation to the Kereys can hardly be verified with currently available data.
- Evident from the text: the sample is small, especially for sub-clan comparisons, and the link to Genghis Khan relies on prior attribution of the C3* star-cluster rather than direct ancient or genealogical evidence.
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A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The Kereys showed the highest frequency (76.5%) of individuals carrying the Y-chromosome variant known as C3* star-cluster ascribed to the descendants of Genghis Khan.”
- Also stated in: § Results · plain
“However, our Kazakh sample is represented mostly by the Kereys, so 76.5% of them are carriers of haplotypes belonging to the C3* star-cluster (Table 2).”
§ The Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan' s descendants is present at high frequency in the Kerey clan from Kazakhstan > Abstract
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
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- Also stated in: § Results · plain
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Median network of the Kerey star-cluster haplotypes at 17 STR loci displays a bipartite structure, with two subclusters defined by the only difference at DYS448 locus.”
- Also stated in: § Results · boosted
“Phylogenetic analysis of the Kerey star-cluster haplotypes demonstrates that median network displays a bipartite structure, with two subclusters recognized (Figure 1).”
§ The Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan' s descendants is present at high frequency in the Kerey clan from Kazakhstan > Abstract
boosted- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- Also stated in: § Results · boosted
A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Our preliminary unpublished data have suggested that C3* star-cluster haplotypes are relatively frequent in the Kereys, who are the dominant clan in Kazakhstan and in Central Asia as a whole (Atwood 2004;Khoyt 2008).”
§ The Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan' s descendants is present at high frequency in the Kerey clan from Kazakhstan > Abstract
hedged- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
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A result the paper reports from its own data — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“SNP typing and median network analysis of C3* STR haplotypes demonstrates that 70% of individuals studied belong to the Y-chromosome star-cluster within paragroup C3* (Table 2, Figure 1).”
§ The Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan' s descendants is present at high frequency in the Kerey clan from Kazakhstan > Results
boosted- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
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In the paper
“Estimation of divergence time (T D ) of two groups of 15 STR haplotypes (except for DYS385a,b loci) found in the Kereys sub-clans demonstrates that T D value equal to 630 ± 190 years (or approximately 21 ± 6 generations) is resulted when a mean of per-locus, per-generation mutation rate of 0.0033 and a 30-year generation time are used.”
§ The Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan' s descendants is present at high frequency in the Kerey clan from Kazakhstan > Results
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Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“As shown in the Y-STR network, a special branch with DYS448 = 23 (defined as the C2*-ST-Kazakh clade, Fig. 2 and Supplementary Table S2) emerged in the Kazakh-Kerey-Abakh population [7].”
From Whole-sequence analysis indicates that the Y chromosome C2*-Star Cluster traces back to ordinary Mongols, rather than Genghis Khan (2018) · cites this paper as [7]
In the citing paper
“As discussed by Zakharov et al. [4] some studies have opposed the connection between C2*-ST and Genghis Khan [5][6][7][8][9][10].”
From Whole-sequence analysis indicates that the Y chromosome C2*-Star Cluster traces back to ordinary Mongols, rather than Genghis Khan (2018) · cites this paper as [7]
In the citing paper
“The highest frequencies of C2*-ST were found in two populations of Kazakhs (Kerey-Abakh and Kerey-Ashmaily, 89.3% and 55.0%, respectively) [7].”
From Whole-sequence analysis indicates that the Y chromosome C2*-Star Cluster traces back to ordinary Mongols, rather than Genghis Khan (2018) · cites this paper as [7]
In the citing paper
“However, based on all available data in the literature and the results reported in this study [4][5][6][7][8][9][10], none of the donors who carried C2*-ST can trace their genealogy to Genghis Khan, and none of the self-claimed direct descendants of Genghis Khan carry C2*-ST.”
From Whole-sequence analysis indicates that the Y chromosome C2*-Star Cluster traces back to ordinary Mongols, rather than Genghis Khan (2018) · cites this paper as [7]
In the citing paper
“The proposed Genghis Khan Y-profile is C2*-ST (M217 + , M93-, P39-, M48-, M407-, P53.1-) [5][6][7].”
From Whole-sequence analysis indicates that the Y chromosome C2*-Star Cluster traces back to ordinary Mongols, rather than Genghis Khan (2018) · cites this paper as [7]
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Citations
Cites
New binary polymorphisms reshape and increase resolution of the human Y chromosomal haplogroup tree
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The Genetic Legacy of the Mongols
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Анатольевич, Ж. Л., Underhill, P. A., Cinnioğlu, C., Kayser, M., Morar, B., Kivisild, T., Scozzari, R., Cruciani, F., Destro‐Bisol, G., Spedini, G., et al. (2004) · The American Journal of Human Genetics · doi:10.1086/380911 · Cited by 394
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- Busby G. B., 2011, Proc. Biol. Sci. in press.
- Khalidullin O. K., 2005, The Kazakh Genealogy. The Keraits.
- Khoyt S. K., 2008, Kereits in Enthnogenesis of Peoples of Eurasia: Historiography of the Problem.
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Cited by
Inferring human history in East Asia from Y chromosomes
Wang, C., & Li, H. (2013) · Investigative Genetics · doi:10.1186/2041-2223-4-11 · Cited by 116
Y-chromosome diversity in the Kalmyks at the ethnical and tribal levels
Malyarchuk, B., Derenko, M., Denisova, G., Khoyt, S., Woźniak, M., Grzybowski, T., & Zakharov, I. (2013) · Journal of Human Genetics · doi:10.1038/jhg.2013.108 · Cited by 19
Self-citationWei, L.-H., Yan, S., Lu, Y., Wen, S.-Q., Huang, Y.-Z., Wang, L.-X., Li, S.-L., Yang, Y.-J., Wang, X.-F., Zhang, C., et al. (2018) · European Journal of Human Genetics · doi:10.1038/s41431-017-0012-3 · Cited by 57
The Connection of the Genetic, Cultural and Geographic Landscapes of Transoxiana
Zhabagin, M., Balanovska, E., Sabitov, Z., Kuznetsova, M., Agdzhoyan, A., Balaganskaya, O., Chukhryaeva, M., Markina, N., Romanov, A., Skhalyakho, R., et al. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03176-z · Cited by 39
Sex‐specific genetic diversity is shaped by cultural factors in Inner Asian human populations
Marchi, N., Hegay, T., Mennecier, P., Georges, M., Laurent, R., Whitten, M., Endicott, P., Aldashev, A., Dorzhu, C., Nasyrova, F., et al. (2017) · American Journal of Physical Anthropology · doi:10.1002/ajpa.23151 · Cited by 38
Metadata
- Authors
- Abilev, S., Malyarchuk, B., Derenko, M., Wozniak, M., Grzybowski, T., & Zakharov, I.
- Affiliations
- Russian Academy of Sciences (RU)
- Nicolaus Copernicus University (PL)
- Corresponding author
- Malyarchuk, Boris
- Venue
- Human Biology
- Published
- 2012-02
- Volume
- 84
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 79-89
- ISSN
- 0018-7143 (ISSN-L)
- 1534-6617
- OpenAlex
- W2160253951
- Cited by
- 56
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 1.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Human Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Human Biology (submittedVersion)
- Project Muse (Johns Hopkins University) (submittedVersion)
- BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Russian Foundation for Basic Research
- Russian Academy of Sciences
- 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
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Keywords
- Genghis Khan, Kazakhs, Y-chromosome haplotypes, paternal lineages
- MeSH terms
- Famous Persons, Gene Frequency, Haplotypes, Humans, Kazakhstan, Male, Pedigree, Phylogeny, Polymorphism, Genetic, Chromosomes, Human, Y, History, Medieval
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