3 replies to this topic

[Karakhan]

The Altai mountain region is usually referred to as the origins of many Altaic speaking ethnicities (henc the name Altaic), but even theorized to be partially one of the origins of other East Asian ethnic groups as well such as the Koreans and Japanese. This thread is dedicated to the ethnic groups that are currently residing in the Altai region, which includes, Khakassia Republic, Altai Republic, Altai Krai, Tuva Republic.

This is only a partial selection I chose out of the following article. The full version can be accessed through your library.

Russian Journal of Genetics, Vol. 37, No. 10, 2001, pp. 1177–1184. Translated from Genetika, Vol. 37, No. 10, 2001, pp. 1402–1410.
Original Russian Text Copyright © 2001 by Derenko, Denisova, Malyarchuk, Dambueva, Luzina, Lotosh, Dorzhu, Karamchakova, Solovenchuk, Zakharov.


The Structure of the Gene Pools of the Ethnic Populations
of Altai–Sayan Region
Based on of Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphism Data

Abstract—Using the data on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphism, genetic structures of the four
Turkic-speaking ethnic groups of Altai–Sayan highlands, Southern Altaians (Altai- Kizhi), Khakassians, Shorians,
and Sojots, were described. Mitochondrial gene pools of the populations examined were characterized by
different ratios between Mongoloid (M*, C, D, E, G, A, B, and F) and Caucasoid (H, U, T, J, and K) mtDNA
lineages. All the populations studied had a strongly pronounced Mongoloid component, the frequency of which
was 88.2% in Sojots, 75.9% in Khakassians, 67.4% in Altaians, and 64.3% in Shorians. Maximum frequency
of the Caucasoid component (35.7%) was observed in Shorians. Phylogenetic and statistical analyses of the
mtDNA group frequency distribution patterns in the gene pools of the ethnic populations of Altai–Sayan highlands
and the adjacent territories showed that the populations of the region fell into three groups. The first group
included Khakassians, Tuvinians and Altaians, the second group consisted of Sojots, Buryats, and Mongols,
while the third group was composed of Uigurs, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyzes. The isolated position of Shorians
among the populations examined can be explained by their different anthropological composition and their presumptive
relatedness to Finno-Ugric populations of Siberia.

Table 3. The frequency of race-specific mtDNA groups in the gene pools of Altai–Sayan ethnic populations
Gene pool
component
Frequency (%)
Altai-Kizhi Shorians Khakassians Sojots Tuvinians Buryats
Mongoloid 67.4 64.3 75.9 88.2 94.4 92.5
Caucasoid 23.9 35.7 18.5 5.9 5.6 5.0
Unidentified 8.7 0 5.6 5.9 0 2.5
--
Evolutionary Relationships between Ethnic Groups
of Altai–Sayan Highlands and Adjacent Territories
The data on the mtDNA groups frequency distribution
patterns in the populations of Altai–Sayan highlands
and adjacent territories were used for the investigation
of evolutionary relationships and molecular
genetic differentiation of the population of this region.
Figure 3 shows an unrooted phylogenetic tree constructed
by use of the NJ algorithm, which provides
correct reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships
between related populations [24]. As the tree shows, the
populations studied fall into three clusters. The first
cluster includes Khakassians, Tuvinians, and Altaians,
while the second cluster consists of Sojots, Buryats,
and Mongols, and the third is represented by the Central
Asian populations of Uighurs, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyzes.
In the tree, the population of Shorians occupies
a somewhat independent position, though it clusters
with the ethnic groups of Central Asia. The marginal
position of Shorians is confirmed by the results of cluster
analysis presented in Fig. 4. The first principle component
accounts for 49.7% of the total variation and
clearly differentiates Shorians from all other populations
examined. The second component explains 24.9%
of the total variation and permits isolation of two population
groups. One of these is represented by Siberian
populations and includes Altaians, Khakassians, Buryats,
Tuvinians, and Sojots, while the second group consists
of Mongols, Kazakhs, Kyrgyzes, Uighurts, and
Shorians. These two population groups are clearly differentiated
by the degree of expression of Caucasoid
component, the values of which in the first group vary
from 5.6% in Tuvinians to 23.9% in Altaians. In turn,
Kazakhs, Kyrgyzes, Uighurs, and Shorians are characterized
by high frequencies (over 33%) of the Caucasoid
component. Mongols, which are included in the
same population group, represent an exception, since
they are characterized by a rather low frequency of
Caucasoid lineages (12.6%). However, compared to all
the other populations, Mongols have maximum number of
unidentified mtDNA lineages (15.5%). In general, despite
different positions of the populations examined in the
phylogenetic tree and in the system of principle components,
distinct similarity between the populations of
Altai–Sayan region and Central Asian populations
could be traced. Shorians occupy an isolated position
among the other populations examined. Anthropological
and ethnographic data suggest that contemporary
Shorians are the Turkicized descendants of Ugric,
Samoyed-speaking tribes and Keto-speaking aboriginals
of the northern taiga part of the Altai–Sayan highlands.
The main anthropological features of Shorians
are less Mongoloid, and they are anthropologically
similar to Khants and Mansis [2, 23]. Thus, genetic
remoteness of Shorians from the main cluster of Altai–
Sayan populations can be explained by their different
anthropological composition and their presumptive
relatedness to Finno-Ugric populations of Siberia.
Unfortunately, the lack of the information on the structure
of mitochondrial gene pools of the Finno-Ugric
populations of Siberia hampers construction of the
whole scenario of the genetic history of Shorians and
Siberian populations.

The results of the present study indicate that restriction
analysis of mtDNA focused on detecting main Eurasian
mtDNA type groups in populations is a highly
informative tool permitting detailed description of gene
pools as well as precise identification of female lineages,
which, in turn, provides estimation of the ratio
between genetic components of different origin in
mixed populations.

[Karakhan]

images of Khakassian festival

[kagemusha]

I think some Japanese and Koreans find it offensive that they are associated with the Altaic race. There are some people in both countries that think northern Altaic groups are a bunch of savages that eat raw meat and have ill-manners.

[Karakhan]

I think some Japanese and Koreans find it offensive that they are associated with the Altaic race. There are some people in both countries that think northern Altaic groups are a bunch of savages that eat raw meat and have ill-manners.

there will always be those who hold negative images of other ethnic groups.
in addition, the problem with many of these so called "associations" are highly nationalistic, which is flawed as nationalism seeks to fix aspects of history, culture, race, etc that cannot be fixed.. as people, language, culture, etc are always evolving/emerging and never fixed.. even in this era of standardized languages and fixed/defined borders. The reverse is also true in nationalisms in which they apply modern definitions of language standardization and borders, and apply them to the past where it did not exist. In any case, this is going a bit off topic.