What is it about?
The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous land empire in history. While historical annals provide us with intriguing—but sometimes contradictory—information on the rulers of the empire, ancient DNA analysis has enabled us to time travel back to the Golden Horde, the northwest extension of the Mongol Empire, and shed new light on the genomic background of its ruling elites.
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Photo by Fadhil Abhimantra on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The ancient DNA study has revealed that the Y-chromosome lineage C3*—previously thought to be the signature haplotype of Genghis Khan—had actually diversified well before the establishment of the Mongol Empire.
Perspectives
This study was made possible by the collaborative efforts of an international team over several years. I hope it helps people to gain fresh insights into the Golden Horde and the Mongol Empire in general.
Ayken Askapuli
University of Wisconsin Madison
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Genomes of the Golden Horde elites and their implications for the rulers of the Mongol Empire, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, February 2026, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2531003123.
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