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5. GENETIC TRACES OF THE TURKIC INFLUENCE IN ARMENIANS AND NEIGHBORING POPULATIONS

GENETIC TRACES OF THE TURKIC INFLUENCE IN ARMENIANS AND NEIGHBORING POPULATIONS

Yepiskoposyan Levon (1), Khachatryan Zaruhi (1), Hovhannisyan Anahit (1), Hovhannisyan Hrant (1), Khudoyan Armine (1), Hrechdakian Peter (2)

1) Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia; 2) Armenian DNA Project, Family Tree DNA, Armenia

Yepiskoposyan Levon, e-mail: lepiskop@yahoo.com.

Abstract

We intended to evaluate the rate of genetic signals from Turkic tribes in the gene pool of various groups of modern Armenians and compare it with the corresponding rate in neighboring populations. The most frequent Y-chromosomal haplogroups in Central Asia were considered as genetic markers of Turkic expansion. The rate of Turkic genetic signal in different territorial groups of Armenians representing almost the whole area of historical Armenia varies in the range of 0–1%, with 0.5% on average for the general population. Comparable rate of Turkic genetic input is also detected in Georgians and non-Turkic speaking ethnic groups of Iran. This level contrasts sharply with that found in other neighboring populations: 6% in modern Turkey, 10–12% in Iranian Azeris, and 10% in Lezgins. These results are consistent with the historical records indicating the main routes of Turkic expansion south of the Caspian Sea and along its western coast. In many cases, the expansion has also resulted in language replacement through the elite dominance model. The virtual lack of Turkic genetic traces observed in Armenians or Georgians as well as the preservation of their language indicates the conservation of their genetic structure despite the centuries of Turkic expansion in southern Caucasus. This genetic evaluation raises questions about the reasons that have impeded genetic contact of Armenians with Turkic tribes. The reason that is most likely a priori is the adoption of Christianity and the formation of a strong ethnic and cultural identity long before the Turkic migration into the region.

Keywords

Armenian population, Turkic expansion, genetic signals

Цит.: Yepiskoposyan Levon, Khachatryan Zaruhi, Hovhannisyan Anahit, Hovhannisyan Hrant, Khudoyan Armine, Hrechdakian Peter GENETIC TRACES OF THE TURKIC INFLUENCE IN ARMENIANS AND NEIGHBORING POPULATIONS // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2014; 3/2014; с. 86-86