Genetic analysis and ethnic affinities from two Scytho‐Siberian skeletons

2003/07/28 by François‐Xavier Ricaut, Christine Keyser‐Tracqui, L Cammaert +2 · 5 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Forensic and Genetic Research #Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research #Genetic diversity and population structure #Haplogroup #Ancient DNA #Mitochondrial DNA #Hypervariable region #mtDNA control region #Population #Evolutionary biology #Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup #Biology #Geography #Haplotype #Genetics #Demography #Gene #Genotype

paper · doi:10.1002/ajpa.10323

openalex publication_date 2003/07/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We extracted DNA from two skeletons belonging to the Sytho-Siberian population, which were excavated from the Sebÿstei site (dating back 2,500 years) in the Altai Republic (Central Asia). Ancient DNA was analyzed by autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) and by the sequencing of the hypervariable region 1 (HV1) of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. The results showed that these two skeletons were not close relatives. Moreover, their haplogroups were characteristic of Asian populations. Comparison with the haplogroup of 3,523 Asian and American individuals linked one skeleton with a putative ancestral paleo-Asiatic population and the other with Chinese populations. It appears that the genetic study of ancient populations of Central Asia brings important elements to the understanding of human population movements in Asia.

Citations

• Genetic analysis of human remains from a double inhumation in a frozen kurgan in Kazakhstan (Berel site, Early 3rd Century BC)
• Native American mitochondrial DNA analysis indicates that the Amerind and the Nadene populations were founded by two independent migrations.
• Sequence and organization of the human mitochondrial genome
• Tracing European Founder Lineages in the Near Eastern mtDNA Pool
• Phylogeographic Differentiation of Mitochondrial DNA in Han Chinese
• Trading Genes along the Silk Road: mtDNA Sequences and the Origin of Central Asian Populations

Cited by

• Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Karkar Islanders
• Autosomal and uniparental portraits of the native populations of Sakha (Yakutia): implications for the peopling of Northeast Eurasia
• The warriors of the steppes: osteological evidence of warfare and violence from Pazyryk tumuli in the Mongolian Altai
• Diverse origin of mitochondrial lineages in Iron Age Black Sea Scythians
• Saka [wikipedia]