Mitochondrial Genome of an 8,400-Year-Old Individual from Northern China Reveals a Novel Subclade under C5d

Document Type

Article

Authors

Xiyan Wu, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Chao Ning, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human HistoryFollow
Qingchuan Bao, Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Shizhu Gao, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Fan Zhang, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Sihao Wu, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Tianjiao Li, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Linyuan Fan, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Tao Li, Wuhan University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Xuan Yang, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Dawei Cai, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow
Yinqiu Cui, Jilin University, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow

Abstract

Ancient DNA studies have always refreshed our understanding of the human past that cannot be tracked by modern DNA alone. Until recently, ancient mitochondrial genomic studies in East Asia were still very limited. Here, we retrieved the whole mitochondrial genome of an 8,400-year-old individual from Inner Mongolia, China. Phylogenetic analyses show that the individual belongs to a previously undescribed clade under haplogroup C5d that most probably originated in northern Asia and may have a very low frequency in extant populations that have not yet been sampled. We further characterized the demographic history of mitochondrial haplogroups C5 and C5d and found that C5 experienced a sharp increase in population size starting around 4,000 years before present, the time when intensive millet farming was developed by populations who are associated with the Lower Xiajiadian culture and was widely adopted in northern China. We caution that people related to haplogroup C5 may have added this farming technology to their original way of life and that the various forms of subsistence may have provided abundant food sources and further contributed to the increase in population size.

Recommended Citation

Wu, Xiyan; Ning, Chao; Bao, Qingchuan; Gao, Shizhu; Zhang, Fan; Wu, Sihao; Li, Tianjiao; Fan, Linyuan; Li, Tao; Yang, Xuan; Cai, Dawei; and Cui, Yinqiu (2019) "Mitochondrial Genome of an 8,400-Year-Old Individual from Northern China Reveals a Novel Subclade under C5d," Human Biology: Vol. 91: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol91/iss1/3