Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2009):

Genetic diversity and the emergence of ethnic groups in Central Asia.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: In this study, we used genetic data that we collected in Central Asia, in addition to data from the literature, to understand better the origins of Central Asian groups at a fine-grained scale, and to assess how ethnicity influences the shaping of genetic differences in the human species. We assess the levels of genetic differentiation between ethnic groups on one hand and between populations of the same ethnic group on the other hand with mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal data from several populations per ethnic group from the two major linguistic groups in Central Asia. RESULTS: Our results show that there are more differences between populations of the same ethnic group than between ethnic groups for the Y chromosome, whereas the opposite is observed for mtDNA in the Turkic group. This is not the case for Tajik populations belonging to the Indo-Iranian group where the mtDNA like the Y-chomosomal differentiation is also significant between populations within this ethnic group. Further, the Y-chromosomal analysis of genetic differentiation between populations belonging to the same ethnic group gives some estimation of the minimal age of these ethnic groups. This value is significantly higher than what is known from historical records for two of the groups and lends support to Barth's hypothesis by indicating that ethnicity, at least for these two groups, should be seen as a constructed social system maintaining genetic boundaries with other ethnic groups, rather than the outcome of common genetic ancestry CONCLUSION: Our analysis of uniparental markers highlights in Central Asia the differences between Turkic and Indo-Iranian populations in their sex-specific differentiation and shows good congruence with anthropological data.

Author information

Author/s: Heyer, Evelyne (E); Balaresque, Patricia (P); Jobling, Mark A (MA); Quintana-Murci, Lluis (L); Chaix, Raphaelle (R); Segurel, Laure (L); Aldashev, Almaz (A); Hegay, Tanya (T);

Affiliation: Eco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie, UMR7206 Département Hommes Natures Sociétés, Musée de l'Homme - 17, Place du Trocadéro - 75116 Paris, France. heyer(-atsign-)mnhn.fr

Grants: 057559 (Agency:Wellcome Trust)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: BMC genetics (BMC Genet), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-; vol 10 (issue ) : pp 49

Dates: Created 2009/09/17; Completed 2009/10/09;

PMID: 19723301, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/9/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Asia, Central - ethnology Chromosomes, Human, Y - genetics DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics Ethnic Groups - genetics Genetic Variation

Genetics, Population Haplotypes Humans Male Microsatellite Repeats

Associated Chemicals: DNA, Mitochondrial (0)

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