High-Coverage Genome of the Tyrolean Iceman Reveals Unusually High Anatolian Farmer Ancestry
August 2023
in “
Cell Genomics
”
Studysummary This study produced a high-coverage genome of the Tyrolean Iceman, revealing no Steppe-related ancestry but significant Anatolian-farmer-related ancestry, and found genetic markers associated with darker skin, male-pattern baldness, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, aligning with observations of his mummified body.
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The high-coverage genome analysis of the Tyrolean Iceman reveals an unusually high proportion of Anatolian farmer ancestry, with 91.4% of his genome attributed to early Neolithic farmers and only 8.6% to Western European hunter-gatherers, contradicting previous findings of Steppe-related ancestry. The Iceman likely had darker skin, black hair, reduced hair curliness, and a genetic predisposition to male-pattern baldness, type 2 diabetes, and obesity-related metabolic syndrome. The study suggests the Iceman's genetic makeup reflects an isolated Alpine population, distinct from more admixed European populations, and highlights the need for further research to determine if he was an outlier or typical of his region.
