The Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan's descendants is present at high frequency in the Kerey clan from Kazakhstan

Document Type

Article

Authors

Serikbai Abilev, N.I. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Boris Malyarchuk, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Russian Academy of Sciences, 685000 Magadan, RussiaFollow
Miroslava Derenko, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Russian Academy of Sciences, 685000 Magadan, Russia
Marcin Wozniak, Forensic Medicine Institute, the Ludwik Rydygier Medical College, the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Tomasz Grzybowski, Forensic Medicine Institute, the Ludwik Rydygier Medical College, the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Ilya Zakharov, Department of Genetics, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia

Open Access Pre-Print

http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol_preprints/13/

Abstract

To verify the possibility that the Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan and his patrilineal descendants is relatively frequent in the Kereys, who are the dominant clan in Kazakhstan and in Central Asia as a whole, polymorphism of the Y-chromosome was studied in Kazakhs, represented mostly by members of the Kerey clan. The Kereys showed the highest frequency (76.5%) of individuals carrying the Y-chromosome variant known as C3* star-cluster ascribed to the descen- dants of Genghis Khan. C3* star-cluster haplotypes were found in two subclans, Abakh-Kereys and Ashmaily-Kereys, diverged about 20-22 generations ago according to the historical data. Median network of the Kerey star-cluster haplotypes at 17 STR loci displays a bipartite structure, with two subclusters defined by the only difference at the DYS448 locus. Noteworthy is a strong correspondence of these subclusters with the Kerey subclans affiliation. The data obtained suggest that the Kerey clan appears to be the largest known clan in the world descending from a common Y-chromosome ancestor. Possible ways of Genghis Khan’s relationship to the Kereys are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Abilev, Serikbai; Malyarchuk, Boris; Derenko, Miroslava; Wozniak, Marcin; Grzybowski, Tomasz; and Zakharov, Ilya (2012) "The Y-chromosome C3* star-cluster attributed to Genghis Khan's descendants is present at high frequency in the Kerey clan from Kazakhstan," Human Biology: Vol. 84: Iss. 1, Article 12.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol84/iss1/12