Human mitochondrial DNA lineages in Iron-Age Fennoscandia suggest incipient admixture and eastern introduction of farming-related maternal ancestry

Abstract Human ancient DNA studies have revealed high mobility in Europe’s past, and have helped to decode the human history on the Eurasian continent. Northeastern Europe, especially north of the Baltic Sea, however, remains less well understood largely due to the lack of preserved human remains. F...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific Reports
Main Authors: Översti, Sanni, Majander, Kerttu, Salmela, Elina, Salo, Kati, Arppe, Laura, Belskiy, Stanislav, Etu-Sihvola, Heli, Laakso, Ville, Mikkola, Esa, Pfrengle, Saskia, Putkonen, Mikko, Taavitsainen, Jussi-Pekka, Vuoristo, Katja, Wessman, Anna, Sajantila, Antti, Oinonen, Markku, Haak, Wolfgang, Schuenemann, Verena J., Krause, Johannes, Palo, Jukka U., Onkamo, Päivi
Other Authors: Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Academy of Finland, Koneen Säätiö, Jane ja Aatos Erkon Säätiö, Ella ja Georg Ehrnroothin Säätiö, Jenny ja Antti Wihurin Rahasto, Emil Aaltosen Säätiö, Finnish Foundations’ Professor Pool Grant
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2019
Subjects:
Multidisciplinary
Fennoscandia
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51045-8
http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-51045-8.pdf
http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-51045-8
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Summary:Abstract Human ancient DNA studies have revealed high mobility in Europe’s past, and have helped to decode the human history on the Eurasian continent. Northeastern Europe, especially north of the Baltic Sea, however, remains less well understood largely due to the lack of preserved human remains. Finland, with a divergent population history from most of Europe, offers a unique perspective to hunter-gatherer way of life, but thus far genetic information on prehistoric human groups in Finland is nearly absent. Here we report 103 complete ancient mitochondrial genomes from human remains dated to AD 300–1800, and explore mtDNA diversity associated with hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers. The results indicate largely unadmixed mtDNA pools of differing ancestries from Iron-Age on, suggesting a rather late genetic shift from hunter-gatherers towards farmers in North-East Europe. Furthermore, the data suggest eastern introduction of farmer-related haplogroups into Finland, contradicting contemporary genetic patterns in Finns.

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