德国马克斯普朗克人类历史科学研究所Christina Warinner、Choongwon Jeong等研究人员合作，揭示了欧亚大陆东部草原长达6000年的动态遗传史。2020年11月5日，国际知名学术期刊《细胞》在线发表了这一成果。

据研究人员介绍，欧亚东部草原是游牧民族曾经的帝国所在地，包括匈奴和蒙古人。但是，对该地区的人口历史知之甚少。

Title: A Dynamic 6,000-Year Genetic History of Eurasia’s Eastern Steppe

Author: Choongwon Jeong, Ke Wang, Shevan Wilkin, William Timothy Treal Taylor, Bryan K. Miller, Jan H. Bemmann, Raphaela Stahl, Chelsea Chiovelli, Florian Knolle, Sodnom Ulziibayar, Dorjpurev Khatanbaatar, Diimaajav Erdenebaatar, Ulambayar Erdenebat, Ayudai Ochir, Ganbold Ankhsanaa, Chuluunkhuu Vanchigdash, Battuga Ochir, Chuluunbat Munkhbayar, Dashzeveg Tumen, Alexey Kovalev, Nikolay Kradin, Bilikto A. Bazarov, Denis A. Miyagashev, Prokopiy B. Konovalov, Elena Zhambaltarova, Alicia Ventresca Miller, Wolfgang Haak, Stephan Schiffels, Johannes Krause, Nicole Boivin, Myagmar Erdene, Jessica Hendy, Christina Warinner

Issue&Volume: 2020-11-05

Abstract: The Eastern Eurasian Steppe was home to historic empires of nomadic pastoralists, including the Xiongnu and the Mongols. However, little is known about the region’s population history. Here, we reveal its dynamic genetic history by analyzing new genome-wide data for 214 ancient individuals spanning 6,000 years. We identify a pastoralist expansion into Mongolia ca. 3000 BCE, and by the Late Bronze Age, Mongolian populations were biogeographically structured into three distinct groups, all practicing dairy pastoralism regardless of ancestry. The Xiongnu emerged from the mixing of these populations and those from surrounding regions. By comparison, the Mongols exhibit much higher eastern Eurasian ancestry, resembling present-day Mongolic-speaking populations. Our results illuminate the complex interplay between genetic, sociopolitical, and cultural changes on the Eastern Steppe.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.10.015

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31321-0