Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Turkey
  • Istanbul
  • Education
  • Investigations
  • Minorities
  • Expat Corner
  • Diaspora

Genetic study links Turkish DNA to Italy's Tuscany, Spain

by Daily Sabah with AA

ISTANBUL Sep 08, 2021 - 11:36 am GMT+3
Turkish fans pose in front of Trevi fountain ahead of a national football match between Italy and Turkey, in Rome, Italy, June 11, 2021. (AA PHOTO)
Turkish fans pose in front of Trevi fountain ahead of a national football match between Italy and Turkey, in Rome, Italy, June 11, 2021. (AA PHOTO)
by Daily Sabah with AA Sep 08, 2021 11:36 am

A decadelong study in Turkey discovered that the population's genetic structure is closely linked to people of Italy's Tuscany and Spain while it demonstrates that the people, like the country they live in, have features bridging the West and the East

RECOMMENDED
A giant wave hits the shore in Muğla province, where the wind force was measured at 70.2 kph, Muğla, Türkiye, Jan. 27, 2023. (AA Photo)

Heavy storm, southwester hits Türkiye's Muğla, Antalya

storm

A study whose results were recently announced may rekindle the debate on whether ancient residents of Italy had migrated from Turkey or not. The decadelong study demonstrated a close link in the DNA of people from Italy's Tuscany region and the people of Turkey. Moreover, it underlines the diverse mix in the genetic structure of society in a country sandwiched between Asia and Europe.

Research led by a Turkish university has concluded that Turkey is a bridge between the East and West with its genetic structure, just like its geography. The research was carried out with the participation of the Koç University Suna-Inan Kıraç Foundation, Health Sciences University of Turkey, along with Rockefeller University (New York), Yale University and Cardiff University and New York's Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai under the leadership of Bilkent University's molecular biology and genetics department in the Turkish capital Ankara. It examined the DNA of approximately 4,000 people from all 81 provinces of Turkey.

The project's executive director, Bilkent University faculty member professor Tayfun Özçelik, shared the findings of the research with Anadolu Agency (AA). Özçelik said they obtained important data on the detailed genetic structure of Turkish society in the study, which lasted about 10 years and was carried out with a budget of $10 million (TL 84.43 billion).

"The results of our study showed that Turkey has a genetic integrity and contains a high level of genetic diversity," he said. Noting that there are common genetic components between Turkish society and Balkan, Caucasian and Middle Eastern societies, Özçelik stressed that there is also a higher level of similarity with European societies than expected.

"Turkey, like its geographical location, is a bridge between the East and the West with its genetic structure," he emphasized. He said the results point to the genetic effects of migration events that have occurred so far in Anatolian geography.

Close ties with Europe

Mentioning that Anatolia serves as a historical bridge between Asia, Europe and Africa, Özçelik said that "from a phylogenetic point of view, Turkish society also reflects the effects of this bridge duty decisively."

"Turkish society has been observed to have a close relationship with people living especially in the Tuscany region of Italy. The second country in this close relationship was identified as Spain. These findings may reflect the effects of the Neolithic migration of Anatolia's first farmers to Europe," he added.

Turkey and Italy share a long history of relations, especially during Ottoman times, and this is also reflected in their cultures. He said the most comprehensive genetic database to date for Turkish society has been created thanks to the research, noting that the original genetic changes to Turkish society have been found.

"The findings also revealed a large number of rare genetic changes that were previously undetected but may be associated with a disease," Özçelik said, adding the database was created with the work of 10 large research groups over 10 years and it emphasized the importance of scientific cooperation.

"Identifying such genetic changes is a strong basis for future research on human genetics, especially in Turkey," he said.

"The database created is designed to detect genetic changes in candidate genes that are rare and cause single-gene diseases, as well as to detect complex diseases such as obesity and diabetes. It will be a valuable reference resource for determining genetic susceptibility. The database is available to researchers."

He also reported that a scientific article on the genetic structure of Turkish society was announced to the scientific world with an article published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," the official publication of the American Academy of Sciences.

Bilkent University doctoral student Ece Kars, the article's lead author, said "the research demonstrates that due to inbreeding in Turkey, it was found that the inbreeding coefficient of Turkish individuals was also high. A high level of inbreeding coefficient poses a risk, especially for recessive diseases."

Kars pointed out that each person carries two copies of each gene inherited from their mother and father. "Recessive diseases occur when the genetic changes that cause the disease are present in both copies. "When the mother and father are relatives, this probability is quite high. The results of this study will be useful in the discovery of genetic changes in previously unknown recessive diseases."

RECOMMENDED
A giant wave hits the shore in Muğla province, where the wind force was measured at 70.2 kph, Muğla, Türkiye, Jan. 27, 2023. (AA Photo)

Heavy storm, southwester hits Türkiye's Muğla, Antalya

storm
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Sep 08, 2021 2:32 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    dna genetics turkey tuscany italy spain europe
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states’ early diplomatic maneuvering occurred in the broader context of the nations’ strategic interests and should not be confused with unequivocal support for Russia. (Shutterstock Photo)

    Gulf states changing the face of Ukraine war

    gulf-states
    Leader of the far-right Danish political party Stram Kurs, Rasmus Paludan, stands outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. (AP Photo)

    Far-right politician Paludan to burn Quran in Denmark

    ISLAMOPHOBIA

    7 killed in armed attack on synagogue in East Jerusalem

    ISRAEL

    US tells Türkiye, Sweden, Finland to solve issues among themselves

    TÜRKIYE-US-RELATIONS
    No Image
    Turkish village makes it onto UN list of best villages
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021