Genomic Investigation of Central Asian Related Ancestry In Present-day Turkish Population

Mekik S. E., Arıcan E.

10th International Congress of the Molecular Biology Association of Turkey, İstanbul, Türkiye, 17 - 19 Eylül 2026, ss.1, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet

Özet

Anatolia has long been a crossroad of population movements between Europe, the Near East, and Asia. This study aimed to investigate the presence, magnitude, and timing of Central/Inner Asian related genetic ancestry in present-day Turkish populations using ancient and modern genomic data.

Genome-wide data from the Allen Ancient DNA Resource (AADR) were analyzed, including Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern Anatolian groups together with reference populations from Central Asia, East Asia, Siberia, and the Eurasian Steppe. Population structure and genetic affinities were assessed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), ADMIXTURE, and f-statistics. Admixture models were tested with qpAdm and admixture dates were estimated using DATES.

Pre-1071 Anatolian groups predominantly showed a West Eurasian genetic profile, whereas present-day Turks and some Ottoman-period groups displayed additional Central/East Eurasian affinity. In present-day Turks, 94 qpAdm models met all acceptance criteria, with a mean Central/Inner Asian related ancestry estimate of 13.7%. In the Ottoman-period Çapalıbağ group, accepted models indicated 27.8-39.5% Central/Inner Asian-related ancestry, with a mean of 34.2%. In contrast, no comparably consistent signal was detected in post-1071 Muğla and Gaziantep groups or in the general Ottoman sample. DATES estimated the admixture in present-day Turks at approximately 32 generations ago, centered around the 11th century CE, while the Çapalıbağ group yielded estimates spanning between the 11th-12th centuries CE.

These findings support a predominantly local Anatolian–West Eurasian genetic background in present-day Turkish population, with a significant but heterogeneous Central/Inner Asian contribution associated with medieval Turkic migrations.