Open AccessAncient Xinjiang mitogenomes reveal intense admixture with high genetic diversity
Author(s) -
Wenjun Wang,
Manyu Ding,
Jacob D. Gardner,
Yongqiang Wang,
Bo Miao,
Wenbin Guo,
Xinhua Wu,
Qiurong Ruan,
Jianjun Yu,
Xingjun Hu,
Bo Wang,
Xiaohong Wu,
Zihua Tang,
Alipujiang Niyazi,
Jie Zhang,
Xi’en Chang,
Yunpeng Tang,
Mindong Ren,
Peng Cao,
Feng Liu,
Qingyan Dai,
Xiaotian Feng,
Ruowei Yang,
Ming Zhang,
Tianyi Wang,
Wanjing Ping,
Weihong Hou,
Wenying Li,
Jian Ma,
Vikas Kumar,
Qiaomei Fu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
science advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.928
H-Index - 146
ISSN - 2375-2548
DOI - 10.1126/sciadv.abd6690
Subject(s) - steppe , genetic diversity , bronze age , east asia , geography , genetic admixture , china , genetic structure , tarim basin , archaeology , biology , evolutionary biology , population , paleontology , demography , sociology
Xinjiang is a key region in northwestern China, connecting East and West Eurasian populations and cultures for thousands of years. To understand the genetic history of Xinjiang, we sequenced 237 complete ancient human mitochondrial genomes from the Bronze Age through Historical Era (41 archaeological sites). Overall, the Bronze Age Xinjiang populations show high diversity and regional genetic affinities with Steppe and northeastern Asian populations along with a deep ancient Siberian connection for the Tarim Basin Xiaohe individuals. In the Iron Age, in general, Steppe-related and northeastern Asian admixture intensified, with North and East Xinjiang populations showing more affinity with northeastern Asians and South Xinjiang populations showing more affinity with Central Asians. The genetic structure observed in the Historical Era of Xinjiang is similar to that in the Iron Age, demonstrating genetic continuity since the Iron Age with some additional genetic admixture with populations surrounding the Xinjiang region.