The farmer-pastoralist interactions in the formation of Qin people revealed by Late Neolithic to Iron Age human genomes

AI interpretationAI-generated

Ancient DNA from Shaanxi reveals how farmers and herders shaped the Qin people.

This study analyzed 3 Late Neolithic genomes from Lushanmao and 34 Iron Age genomes from Liuying, the Qin capital. The genetic data show a mix of ancestral components, reflecting interactions between farming and pastoralist groups. These findings shed light on the formation of the Qin people during the Eastern Zhou period.

• 3 Late Neolithic genomes from Lushanmao and 34 Iron Age genomes from Liuying were sequenced.
• Y-chromosome lineages include C-F3826, Q-F1827, O-CTS1980, and others, indicating diverse paternal origins.
• Mitochondrial DNA lineages such as A11, B4b1c1, and D5a2a1 suggest maternal diversity and possible admixture.

Sample interpretation

Of 37 total samples, 18 had resolved Y-chromosome haplogroups. The Y lineages are mainly Q and O, with one C, pointing to both pastoralist (Q) and farmer (O) paternal contributions. Mitochondrial DNA shows A11 as most frequent (4 samples), followed by several others, indicating a mix of maternal lineages from different regions.

For genealogy enthusiasts

For ancestry enthusiasts, this study highlights the genetic complexity of the Qin people, showing that their formation involved both farming and pastoralist populations. It provides a case study of how ancient DNA can trace interactions between different subsistence groups in northern China.