Question

Allentoft et al. (2015) present evidence that characteristic European traits such as blue eye color, light skin color, and lactase persistence were changing continuously from the Mesolithic through the end of the Bronze Age. Discuss the details of these experiments and their findings.Taking questions #4-7 together, does this suggest that Europeans belong to a single unified “race”, or to a culturally and genetically diverse mosaic formed by mixing multiple populations?

Answer source from here : Allentoft, M. E. et al. (2015) Population genomics of Bronze Age Eurasia. Nature 522, 167-172.

Answer 1

In this experiment investigation new, improved methods were used to sequence low-coverage genomes from 101 ancient humans from across Eurasia. For this average output of authentic endogenous DNA was increased fourfold. Data set comprises of 19 genomes, between 1.1–7.43 average depth, thereby doubling the number of existing Eurasian ancient genomes above 13 coverage. Results of analysis of data were compared with previous and modern literature.

Major Findings:

The genetic ‘Caucasus component’ present in Bronze Age Europe has a steppe origin instead of a southern Caucasus origin.

Copper Age Remedello culture in Italy does not have the ‘Caucasian’ genetic element and is still clustering genetically with Neolithic farmers.

The close affinity between peoples of Corded Ware and Sintashta cultures was observed soboth might have similar genetic sources.

Bronze Age was greatly vibrant period in Europe as well as Asia in which large-scale population migrations and replacements occurred due to this current demographic structure in both continents existed.

Yamnaya migrations lead to gene flow across vast distances, essentially connecting Altai in Siberia with Scandinavia in the Early Bronze Age.

Andronovo signifies a temporal and geographical extension of the Sintashta gene pool.

Results are in accordance with hypothesis of spread of Indo-European languages during the Early Bronze Age.

Majority of the basis of the Eurasian genetic landscape of current days was formed during the complex patterns of expansions, admixture and replacements.

Results specify significant temporal shifts in the gene pools and more genetically structured ancient groups of Eurasia than modern populations.

Light skin pigmentation in Europeans was regular in occurrence in the Bronze Age, but not lactose tolerance was not common.

Lactase tolerance may have originated from steppe.

This study suggests that Europeans does not belong to a single unified “race”, but they belong to a culturally and genetically diverse mosaic formed by mixing multiple populations.