Ancient X chromosomes reveal contrasting sex bias in Neolithic and Bronze Age Eurasian migrations.

ABSTRACT: Dramatic events in human prehistory, such as the spread of agriculture to Europe from Anatolia and the late Neolithic/Bronze Age migration from the Pontic-Caspian Steppe, can be investigated using patterns of genetic variation among the people who lived in those times. In particular, studies of differing female and male demographic histories on the basis of ancient genomes can provide information about complexities of social structures and cultural interactions in prehistoric populations. We use a mechanistic admixture model to compare the sex-specifically-inherited X chromosome with the autosomes in 20 early Neolithic and 16 late Neolithic/Bronze Age human remains. Contrary to previous hypotheses suggested by the patrilocality of many agricultural populations, we find no evidence of sex-b

SUBMITTER: Goldberg A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5347611 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature