Whole-sequence analysis indicates that the y chromosome C2∗-Star Cluster traces back to ordinary Mongols, rather than Genghis Khan /631/208/457 /631/208/514 article

Abstract

The Y-chromosome haplogroup C3∗-Star Cluster (revised to C2∗-ST in this study) was proposed to be the Y-profile of Genghis Khan. Here, we re-examined the origin of C2∗-ST and its associations with Genghis Khan and Mongol populations. We analyzed 34 Y-chromosome sequences of haplogroup C2∗-ST and its most closely related lineage. We redefined this paternal lineage as C2b1a3a1-F3796 and generated a highly revised phylogenetic tree of the haplogroup, including 36 sub-lineages and 265 non-private Y-chromosome variants. We performed a comprehensive analysis and age estimation of this lineage in eastern Eurasia, including 18,210 individuals from 292 populations. We discovered that the origin of populations with high frequencies of C2∗-ST can be traced to either an ancient Niru'un Mongol clan or ordinary Mongol tribes. Importantly, the age of the most recent common ancestor of C2∗-ST (2576 years, 95% CI = 1975-3178) and its sub-lineages, and their expansion patterns, are consistent with the diffusion of all Mongolic-speaking populations, rather than Genghis Khan himself or his close Male relatives. We concluded that haplogroup C2∗-ST is one of the founder paternal lineages of all Mongolic-speaking populations, and direct evidence of an association between C2∗-ST and Genghis Khan has yet to be discovered.