Genetic genealogy of Y-chromosome in the Zhetiru tribe of the Kazakh population from Kazakhstan

IntroductionThe Y chromosome, transmitted exclusively through the paternal line, is a well-established tool for verifying genealogical data. The Kazakh tribe Zhetiru in Kazakhstan, comprising seven clans, has conflicting historical and genealogical narratives regarding its origin—either as a union o...

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Main Authors: Aigul Zhunussova, Saltanat Tayshanova, Alizhan Bukayev, Ayagoz Bukayeva, Baglan Aidarov, Radik Temirgaliev, Zhaxylyk Sabitov, Maxat Zhabagin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Genetics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1516130/full
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author Aigul Zhunussova
Saltanat Tayshanova
Alizhan Bukayev
Ayagoz Bukayeva
Baglan Aidarov
Radik Temirgaliev
Radik Temirgaliev
Zhaxylyk Sabitov
Zhaxylyk Sabitov
Maxat Zhabagin
Maxat Zhabagin
author_facet Aigul Zhunussova
Saltanat Tayshanova
Alizhan Bukayev
Ayagoz Bukayeva
Baglan Aidarov
Radik Temirgaliev
Radik Temirgaliev
Zhaxylyk Sabitov
Zhaxylyk Sabitov
Maxat Zhabagin
Maxat Zhabagin
author_sort Aigul Zhunussova
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe Y chromosome, transmitted exclusively through the paternal line, is a well-established tool for verifying genealogical data. The Kazakh tribe Zhetiru in Kazakhstan, comprising seven clans, has conflicting historical and genealogical narratives regarding its origin—either as a union of seven independent clans or as descendants of a single common ancestor. A detailed genetic investigation has not yet addressed this question.Methods350 male volunteers from the Zhetiru tribe were analyzed using 23 Y-STR loci and 17 Y-SNPs. We calculated genetic distances using Arlequin and STRAF, and explored genetic structure with median-joining networks using a comparative dataset of over 3,000 Kazakh individuals.ResultsAt the tribal level, haplotype diversity (0.997) and haplogroup diversity (0.91) are high. However, at the clan level, haplotypic diversity decreases, revealing clear founder effects in the main haplogroups of Kerderi (R1a1a), Kereit (N1a2), Tama (C2a1a3), and Teleu (J2a2). The genetic structures of Zhagalbaily, Ramadan, and Tabyn indicate additional sub-clan founders. The ages of key clusters suggest stable genetic lineages for over 1,000 years. Zhetiru clans do not form a distinct genetic cluster among Kazakh tribes but demonstrate genetic affinities with others.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the effective application of genetic genealogy approaches in verifying historical and genealogical records concerning the Zhetiru tribe and determining its origin from distinct, genetically independent clans.
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spelling doaj-art-64b3cc4eeab9497e9eab2a4aa6af5a092025-08-20T02:41:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212025-03-011610.3389/fgene.2025.15161301516130Genetic genealogy of Y-chromosome in the Zhetiru tribe of the Kazakh population from KazakhstanAigul Zhunussova0Saltanat Tayshanova1Alizhan Bukayev2Ayagoz Bukayeva3Baglan Aidarov4Radik Temirgaliev5Radik Temirgaliev6Zhaxylyk Sabitov7Zhaxylyk Sabitov8Maxat Zhabagin9Maxat Zhabagin10Astana International University, Astana, KazakhstanAstana International University, Astana, KazakhstanNational Center for Biotechnology, Astana, KazakhstanNational Center for Biotechnology, Astana, KazakhstanNational Center for Biotechnology, Astana, KazakhstanResearch Institute for Jochi Ulus Studies, Astana, KazakhstanKazak Historical Society, Astana, KazakhstanResearch Institute for Jochi Ulus Studies, Astana, KazakhstanKazak Historical Society, Astana, KazakhstanNational Center for Biotechnology, Astana, KazakhstanDNK Shejire LLP, Astana, KazakhstanIntroductionThe Y chromosome, transmitted exclusively through the paternal line, is a well-established tool for verifying genealogical data. The Kazakh tribe Zhetiru in Kazakhstan, comprising seven clans, has conflicting historical and genealogical narratives regarding its origin—either as a union of seven independent clans or as descendants of a single common ancestor. A detailed genetic investigation has not yet addressed this question.Methods350 male volunteers from the Zhetiru tribe were analyzed using 23 Y-STR loci and 17 Y-SNPs. We calculated genetic distances using Arlequin and STRAF, and explored genetic structure with median-joining networks using a comparative dataset of over 3,000 Kazakh individuals.ResultsAt the tribal level, haplotype diversity (0.997) and haplogroup diversity (0.91) are high. However, at the clan level, haplotypic diversity decreases, revealing clear founder effects in the main haplogroups of Kerderi (R1a1a), Kereit (N1a2), Tama (C2a1a3), and Teleu (J2a2). The genetic structures of Zhagalbaily, Ramadan, and Tabyn indicate additional sub-clan founders. The ages of key clusters suggest stable genetic lineages for over 1,000 years. Zhetiru clans do not form a distinct genetic cluster among Kazakh tribes but demonstrate genetic affinities with others.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the effective application of genetic genealogy approaches in verifying historical and genealogical records concerning the Zhetiru tribe and determining its origin from distinct, genetically independent clans.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1516130/fullY-chromosomeSTR (short tandem repeat)haplotype diversitygenetic genealogyZhetiru tribeKazakh population
spellingShingle Aigul Zhunussova
Saltanat Tayshanova
Alizhan Bukayev
Ayagoz Bukayeva
Baglan Aidarov
Radik Temirgaliev
Radik Temirgaliev
Zhaxylyk Sabitov
Zhaxylyk Sabitov
Maxat Zhabagin
Maxat Zhabagin
Genetic genealogy of Y-chromosome in the Zhetiru tribe of the Kazakh population from Kazakhstan
Frontiers in Genetics
Y-chromosome
STR (short tandem repeat)
haplotype diversity
genetic genealogy
Zhetiru tribe
Kazakh population
title Genetic genealogy of Y-chromosome in the Zhetiru tribe of the Kazakh population from Kazakhstan
title_full Genetic genealogy of Y-chromosome in the Zhetiru tribe of the Kazakh population from Kazakhstan
title_fullStr Genetic genealogy of Y-chromosome in the Zhetiru tribe of the Kazakh population from Kazakhstan
title_full_unstemmed Genetic genealogy of Y-chromosome in the Zhetiru tribe of the Kazakh population from Kazakhstan
title_short Genetic genealogy of Y-chromosome in the Zhetiru tribe of the Kazakh population from Kazakhstan
title_sort genetic genealogy of y chromosome in the zhetiru tribe of the kazakh population from kazakhstan
topic Y-chromosome
STR (short tandem repeat)
haplotype diversity
genetic genealogy
Zhetiru tribe
Kazakh population
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1516130/full
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