Ethnic components of the Kyrgyz according to population genetics data

The article presents the review of population genetics data on the Kyrgyz of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan (Pamir), and China (Xinjiang). These data include frequencies of Y-chromosome and mtDNA haplogroups, as well as autosomal markers. According to autosomal markers, the Kyrgyz are on the periphery of the influence of the «Northwestern Europe», «Caucasus» and «Hindustan» components, in the area of significant influence of «Siberia» component, and moderate influence of the «Southern China» component. The following associations of Y-chromosome haplogroups and their subclades are identified: Mongolian (C2, O, and D), European (I1), West Asian (E1, I2, G2, J1), Southern (J2, G1, R2, L, T1a, H1), Steppe (subclad R1a-Z93, subclades R1b), and Siberian (Q, subclades N). Among the Kyrgyz, two ethnic components clearly predominate among Y-chromosome haplogroups: the R1a-Z93 subclade and the Mongolian haplogroup association. These components account for 53.9% and 23.7% of carriers among the Kyrgyz of Kyrgyzstan. The first component is ancient, having been present in Kyrgyzstan since at least the Bronze Age (determined by paleoDNA). Based on the subclades of haplogroup C2, it has been established that the second component was derived from the Kalmaks (Zungars) in the 17th–18th centuries. They also contributed 7.8% of the Siberian component. Haplogroup J2, which accounts for 3.3% of the Kyrgyz, reflects their contact with the Uyghurs. The remaining haplogroups of the Southern Association (except G1) are the result of gene emission from Hindustan and Tibet. The overwhelming majority of carriers of the second component of the steppe association subclades of haplogroup R1b, were found among the Kyrgyz of southern Kyrgyzstan 12.7%. The Kyrgyz of Tajikistan have high frequencies of subclades of haplogroup N about 25.0%. According to the structure of the East Eurasian association of mtDNA haplogroups (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, Y, Z), the Kyrgyz of Kyrgyzstan and China do not differ from the Mongols and Kazakhs. The Kyrgyz and Kazakhs have similar total frequencies 55.0 ... 58.7%. Among the Mongols 70.9 ... 74.6%. The ancestors of the Kyrgyz and southern Altaians in the past were part of a population in which the subclade R1a-Z93 (R1a-Z2124) was sharply dominant in frequencies. Its initial formation during the Bronze Age occurred in the Tien Shan-Sayan zone (the author’s hypothesis). Later, carriers of the subclade migrated to Eastern Europe and Northern Hindustan.

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