Ethics Manual

Abstract

The differing activities and proclivities of males and females over the ages mean that Y-chromosomal DNA and mitochondrial DNA allow us to open a window on population histories, and put some flesh on the bare bones of legend and myth. Perhaps surprisingly, this approach is bearing significant fruit, some of which borders on the shocking. In 2003, Zerjal et al. reported an astonishingly high carriage rate of a recent Y-chromosome signature across the old Mongol empire up to 8% of the Y-chromosomes appeared to show an origin from around the time of Genghis Khan the tempting inference (which may well be correct) is that this is the genetic legacy of Genghis himself. He and his descendants were well known for their sexual voracity, and association with the ruling family would have boosted their reproductive luck somewhat.