Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 50 (2) 2022   doi:10.17746/1563-0110.2022.50.2.140-149

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Paleogenetic Studies of Migration Processes in Eurasia

A.S. Pilipenko, R.O. Trapezov, and S.V. Cherdantsev

Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

Migration processes played a key role in shaping the cultural and genetic landscapes in Eurasia. Significant progress in the field of migration studies in recent years is associated with the development of methods for studying ancient DNA, making it possible to reach a new level of understanding the population-genetic aspects of ancient migrations and significantly supplementing the evidence of paleoanthropology and genetics of modern populations, but not replacing these areas. A key challenge is the correct comparison of processes accompanying migrations at the population genetic level and at the level of material culture. The article highlights current methods used in studying ancient DNA, from the traditional analysis of individual genetic markers to the genome-wide analysis by high-throughput sequencing. Approaches to the study of ancient migrations and to the objective reconstruction of the genetic profile of populations and its dynamics in time and space are assessed. Special attention is paid to the problem of representative sampling in the study of migration processes using paleogenetic methods, and possible strategies for selecting the materials most adequate to the tasks of the study. Ways of enhancing the efficiency of the diachronic approach in reconstructing the genetic history of populations are discussed. Possible prospects of paleogenetic studies are evaluated, including the transition to more detailed reconstructions of local migration processes.

Keywords: Paleogenetics, migrations, mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome, nuclear genome