DNA from a Neanderthal bone fragment in Crimea, dated to around 45,900-45,300 years ago, reveals genetic links between European and Siberian Neanderthals and suggests a migration corridor along 55°N.
Alan Turing and John von Neumann saw it early: the logic of life and the logic of code may be one and the same. This article explores the idea that life, at its core, might be computational, drawing parallels between DNA, computation, and the work of Turing and von Neumann.
Geneticist David Reich explains how analyses made possible by technological advances show human history to be one of mixing, movement, and displacement.
Ancient DNA points to the roots of Uralic languages in Yakutia, far east of the Ural Mountains. The genetic trail traces a remarkable prehistoric migration that reshaped Eurasia’s linguistic landscape.
A new study using ancient DNA has revealed that the origins of the Uralic language family (including Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian) lie further east than previously thought – specifically in Yakutia, northeastern Siberia, around 4,500 years ago. Researchers, led by Harvard scientists, analyzed genomes from Siberia and across Eurasia, tracing a genetic signal westward. This challenges the long-held belief that the Uralic homeland was near the Ural Mountains.
The study links the spread of Uralic languages to the Seima-Turbino phenomenon – a period of advanced bronze-casting and cultural exchange – and shows interaction with the Yamnaya culture (associated with the spread of Indo-European languages). While modern Uralic-speaking populations show varying degrees of Yakutia ancestry (with Hungarians having the least), the ancient DNA confirms a Siberian origin for the language family. The research also sheds light on the origins of the Yeniseian language family and potentially supports a connection between Yeniseian and North American Na-Dene languages.
A new study using ancient DNA has revealed that the origins of the Uralic language family (including Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian) lie further east than previously thought – specifically in Yakutia, northeastern Siberia, around 4,500 years ago. Researchers, led by Harvard scientists, analyzed genomes from Siberia and across Eurasia, tracing a genetic signal westward. This challenges the long-held belief that the Uralic homeland was near the Ural Mountains.
The study links the spread of Uralic languages to the Seima-Turbino phenomenon – a period of advanced bronze-casting and cultural exchange – and shows interaction with the Yamnaya culture (associated with the spread of Indo-European languages). While modern Uralic-speaking populations show varying degrees of Yakutia ancestry (with Hungarians having the least), the ancient DNA confirms a Siberian origin for the language family. The research also sheds light on the origins of the Yeniseian language family and potentially supports a connection between Yeniseian and North American Na-Dene languages.
An international team analyzed ancient DNA from 230 individuals in Georgia and Armenia, revealing a largely stable local gene pool from the Bronze Age to 500 CE, with some migration from Anatolia and the Eurasian steppe. The study also found that cranial deformation, initially introduced by migrants, became a local tradition.
This research investigates the genetic origins of the Marsh Arabs of Iraq, believed to have strong ties to the ancient Sumerians. By analyzing Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA from 143 Marsh Arabs and comparing them to a larger Iraqi control group, the study reveals a predominantly Middle Eastern genetic heritage with minor contributions from Southwest Asia and Africa. Notably, a specific Y-chromosome lineage (J1-Page08) shows expansion concurrent with the Sumerian period, suggesting a potential genetic link. While the introduction of water buffalo farming appears to have had limited impact on the gene pool, the findings support the hypothesis that the Sumerians were likely autochthonous to the region, rather than originating from India or South Asia.
Haplogroup Q-Y2197, also known as Haplogroup Q-M242, is a genealogical group of lineages defined by unique genetic markers present on the Y-chromosome. It's commonly found among populations in the United Kingdom and Ireland and is linked to the Marsh Arab population in Mesopotamia.
New research identifies the prehistoric progenitors of Uralic languages in northeastern Siberia, about 4,500 years ago, challenging previous theories that placed their origins near the Ural Mountains.
This article details how recent advancements in ancient DNA (aDNA) research are challenging long-held beliefs in archaeology and potentially rehabilitating a previously discredited historical model. For much of the 20th century, archaeological interpretations favored gradual cultural shifts driven by trade and intermingling, downplaying the role of large-scale migrations and distinct ethnic groups. This was partly a reaction against the work of Gustaf Kossinna, a 19th/20th-century archaeologist whose “culture-history” model – linking archaeological cultures directly to specific peoples and their movements – became tainted by association with Nazi ideology.
However, the aDNA revolution, beginning in the late 2000s, has revealed a more dynamic and often disruptive picture of prehistory. Genetic analysis confirms that significant population movements did occur, particularly with the spread of Indo-European languages across Europe and into India. This supports Kossinna’s core idea that cultural changes often accompanied the movement of peoples, though it doesn’t endorse his problematic racial theories.
However, the aDNA revolution, beginning in the late 2000s, has revealed a more dynamic and often disruptive picture of prehistory. Genetic analysis confirms that significant population movements did occur, particularly with the spread of Indo-European languages across Europe and into India. This supports Kossinna’s core idea that cultural changes often accompanied the movement of peoples, though it doesn’t endorse his problematic racial theories.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is acquiring 23andMe for $256 million, gaining access to the genetic data of around 15 million customers. This raises data privacy concerns, despite assurances from Regeneron to honor existing privacy practices. The sale also brings up questions about potential compensation for customers if the data leads to profitable medications.
