Western Eurasian ancestry in modern Siberians based on mitogenomic data

Area of Science:

• Population Genetics
• Human Migration Studies
• Ancient DNA Analysis

Background:

• Siberian populations exhibit a complex genetic makeup, with both East Asian and substantial Western Eurasian ancestries.
• Previous research indicated at least two distinct migration events into southern Siberia from Eastern Europe and Western Asia/Caucasus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze new complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from Siberian populations.
• To expand datasets of Western Eurasian lineages in Northern Asia.
• To define Siberian-specific subclades and investigate their links to human migration.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 166 new complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences.
• Phylogenetic analysis of Western Eurasian mtDNA genomes found in Siberia.
• Coalescence analysis to estimate the age of Siberian-specific subclades.

Main Results:

• Nearly 40% of Western Eurasian mtDNA genomes in Siberia show Western Asian ancestry, and 29% show European ancestry.
• Approximately 41% of Northern Asian mitogenomes fall into 19 Siberian-specific subclades.
• Coalescence analysis suggests Siberian-specific subclades originated 0.6–9.5 kya (complete mtDNA rate) or 1–6 kya (coding region rate).

Conclusions:

• Western Eurasian lineages contributing to Siberian-specific subclades likely originated in the early to mid-Holocene.
• Some genetic lineages may trace back to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).
• No evidence was found for pre-LGM Western Eurasian expansions in modern Northern Asians.