Biological ancestries, kinship connections, and projected identities in four central Anatolian settlements: insights from culturally contextualized genetic anthropology.

Previous population genetics studies in Turkey failed to delineate recent historical and social factors that shaped Anatolian cultural and genetic diversity at the local level. To address this shortcoming, we conducted focused ethnohistorical fieldwork and screened biological samples collected from the Yuksekyer region for mitochondrial, Y chromosome, and autosomal markers and then analyzed the data within an ethnohistorical context. Our results revealed that, at the village level, paternal genetic diversity is structured among settlements, whereas maternal genetic diversity is distributed more homogenously, reflecting the strong patrilineal cultural traditions that transcend larger ethnic and religious structures. Local ancestries and origin myths, rather than ethnic or religious affiliations, delineate the social boundaries and projected identities among the villages. Therefore, we conclude that broad, ethnicity-based sampling is inadequate to capture the genetic signatures of recent social and historical dynamics, which have had a profound influence on contemporary genetic and cultural regional diversity.

Y-chromosome and autosomal STR diversity in four proximate settlements in Central Anatolia.

Due to the longstanding human presence in the region and the influence of social traditions, the genetic make-up of populations currently inhabiting Turkey (Anatolia) is quite complex. To characterize the patterns of genetic diversity in rural Central Anatolian villages, we analyzed samples collected at four local settlements for variation at 17 Y-chromosome STR and 15 autosomal STR loci. The resulting data reveal considerable diversity within these settlements, as well as some structure in the paternal genetic variation, with a limited number of haplotypes being shared between the communities. These findings have important implications for forensic studies of Turkish populations.

Factor V Leiden in an Urartian, dating back to 1000 BC.

Factor V Leiden (FVL) is the most common monogenic disorder that causes activated protein C (APC) resistance, creating hyper-coagulation. The mutation shows an uneven geographic distribution, significantly high in European populations. The mutation is believed to have originated approximately 20 000 years ago probably from a geographic region close to Anatolia. This fact makes it noteworthy to search for the mutation in ancient populations that once lived in this area. One of these civilizations, Urartu was centered around Van Lake in Eastern Turkey. The archeological remains from the excavations of the region are dated back to 1000 BC. Teeth, taken from the excavations of Van Yoncatepe fortress, were taken into DNA analysis considering all the precautions for ancient DNA analysis. Multiplex STR (Short Tandem Repeats) analysis were performed both to determine the gender of the samples and to conclude that the samples are preserved from modern DNA contamination. After getting an 80% amplification success for amelogenin, a melting curve analysis using lightcycler was performed to determine the FVL genotype of each sample. Of the 60 samples, 1 gave a positive amplification result for FV gene and was found to be heterozygous. To date, the age of this mutation was estimated based on statistical calculations using haplotype frequencies; here for the first time, we report FVL in an ancient population of 3000 years.

"Orthograde entrance technique" to recover DNA from ancient teeth preserving the physical structure.

Milling methods utilized by molecular researchers destruct the morphological structure of ancient teeth, crucial in anthropological evaluation. This causes researchers to be reluctant to try DNA analyses. Retrograde, reverse root canal technique, which is from root apex to the tooth crown, provides both a dentine rich sample and a procedure that overcomes this problem. However, this technique has some disadvantages due to the relatively fragile, permeable and weak nature of the tooth root. On the other hand, "orthograde entrance technique", straight from tooth crown to the root apex, both preserves the morphological structure and deals with the problems related to the root structure by providing an entrance from the enamel surface. Moreover comparable amplification results to prior studies in the literature were also achieved.

An end to a rumour.

Mardin, is a city in the southeastern part of Turkey where people from different cultures and religions have been living together peacefully for centuries. The province hosted many valuable historical constructions representing different civilizations. Kasimiye Medresse, one of the most important educational centers of its times, has a sacred value for people in Mardin. The reason is that the stain on the wall of Kasimiye Medresse is considered to be Sultan Kasim's blood. Our study aims to analyze if the stain in question is blood. Serological tests are performed by using "Kastle-Meyer" and "Luminol" reactives on the scrapped samples taken from stained and unstained parts of the wall. At the end of the analysis, the stain is turned out to be a dye made of herbal roots ending the rumour of centuries.

The identification of a dismembered human body: a multidisciplinary approach.

A criminal case was directed to a multidisciplinary forensic team for identification, concerning a victim whose head, having two gunshot wounds, had been separated by a sharp instrument and was recovered 6 months later. The purpose of this research was to determine the sex and age of the victim for human identification. Primarily, macroscopic examination of the skull, tooth, and DNA analysis was conducted for sex determination. A rough assessment of age was made from the skull based on anthropological findings, however a more definitive result of age estimation was determined utilizing dental morphology. The dental data showed an age range of 32-37 from the mineral examination and the formulation of microscopic measurements. The results obtained from the skull and dental analysis matched with the physical characteristics of the victim's body, the known personal data of this person, and with the superposition of the photos gathered by a formal request. Besides, the result of DNA profiling of the victim showed male gender and direct relationship with the victim's presumed wife and daughter. Generally, research on human identification consists of sex and age determination. The sex characteristics can be precisely proved from DNA tests. However, age can be estimated by skeletal, and dental analysis. In this case the performed sex and age analysis lead the research to the selective matching of the missing person's identity.