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DNA Phenotyping of Remains from Elite Burials of the Khazar Period of Southern Russia

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Abstract

Ancient DNA analyses help to solve the problems related to the genogeographic origin and migration patterns of populations. The Khazar Khaganate is a subject of controversy among researchers. Its complex historical development, lack of a sufficient number of artistic and written sources, the disappearance of representatives of Khazar culture leaves open the question of the appearance of the Khazars. DNA phenotyping of bone remains from elite burials of the Khazar period of Southern Russia was carried out with respect to eye color, hair color, skin color, and AB0 blood groups. Eight out of 10 individuals had brown eyes, dark hair (to varying degrees), and a predominantly dark skin during their lifetime. Individuals from two burials had gray-blue eyes, and one individual had blond hair. The most probable AB0 blood group was identified in eight people, of which five blood group 0 (I) group, four had blood group A (II), and one had blood group B (III). The allele frequency distribution was assessed for ten population-specific autosomal markers and suggested high heterogeneity for the ethnogeographic origin of the Khazars examined. The results are evidence for ethnocultural, genetic, and phenotypic diversity of the Khazar Khaganate.

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Funding

This work was supported by a state agreement with the Southern Research Center (project no. 122011900166-9, sample preparation from ancient bones) and the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 22-28-02000 “Combined Historical, Cultural, and Molecular Genetic Investigation of the Ancient Population of the Lower Don Region of the Sarmatian Period,” ancient DNA isolation and quantification).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    D. O. Fesenko, S. A. Polyakov & M. A. Filippova

  2. Southern Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 344006, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

    O. Yu. Aramova & I. V. Kornienko

  3. Ivanovsky Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, 344090, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

    O. Yu. Aramova, E. V. Vdovchenkov, V. S. Florinskaya & I. V. Kornienko

  4. DNA Research Center, LLC, 141402, Hkimki, Moscow Oblast, Russia

    I. D. Ivanovsky

  5. Institute of Physics, Southern Federal University, 344090, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

    O. E. Fesenko

  6. St. Petersburg Forensic Bureau, 195067, St. Petersburg, Russia

    T. G. Faleeva

  7. Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University, 191015, St. Petersburg, Russia

    T. G. Faleeva

Authors
  1. D. O. Fesenko
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  2. O. Yu. Aramova
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  3. E. V. Vdovchenkov
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  4. I. D. Ivanovsky
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  5. O. E. Fesenko
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  6. S. A. Polyakov
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  7. T. G. Faleeva
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  8. M. A. Filippova
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  9. V. S. Florinskaya
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  10. I. V. Kornienko
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. V. Kornienko.

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Conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of humans or animals. This work does not contain any studies involving animals or human subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Translated by T. Tkacheva

Abbreviations: SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; STR, short tandem repeat; AFR, African population; EAS, East Asian population; EUR, European population; SAS, South Asian population.

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Fesenko, D.O., Aramova, O.Y., Vdovchenkov, E.V. et al. DNA Phenotyping of Remains from Elite Burials of the Khazar Period of Southern Russia. Mol Biol 57, 593–603 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026893323040040

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026893323040040

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