High Frequency Haplotypes are Expected Events, not Historical Figures

TL;DR

High frequency haplotypes in Y chromosome data can arise by chance under neutral models, challenging previous claims that they result from cultural transmission of reproductive success by historical figures.

Contribution

The study demonstrates through coalescent simulations that high frequency haplotypes do not require cultural transmission explanations, offering a neutral model perspective.

Findings

High frequency haplotypes are consistent with neutral evolution.

Cultural transmission is not statistically necessary to explain haplotype frequencies.

Neutral models can account for observed genetic patterns.

Abstract

Cultural transmission of reproductive success states that successful men have more children and pass this raised fecundity to their offspring. Balaresque and colleagues found high frequency haplotypes in a Central Asian Y chromosome dataset, which they attribute to cultural transmission of reproductive success by prominent historical men, including Genghis Khan. Using coalescent simulation, we show that these high frequency haplotypes are consistent with a neutral model, where they commonly appear simply by chance. Hence, explanations invoking cultural transmission of reproductive success are statistically unnecessary.