Responding to an enquiry concerning the geographic population structure (GPS) approach and the origin of Ashkenazic Jews - a reply to Flegontov et al

TL;DR

This paper defends the use of the GPS biogeographical tool to trace the origins of Ashkenazic Jews and Yiddish, supporting an Irano-Turko-Slavic origin over the German Rhineland hypothesis.

Contribution

It clarifies the GPS methodology, reviews recent genetic and biogeographical findings, and responds to critiques regarding the origin hypotheses of Ashkenazic Jews and Yiddish.

Findings

GPS localized AJs along ancient trade routes in northeastern Turkey.

Findings support an Irano-Turko-Slavic origin for AJs.

Results challenge the German Rhineland hypothesis.

Abstract

Recently, we investigated the geographical origins of Ashkenazic Jews (AJs) and their native language Yiddish by applying a biogeographical tool, the Geographic Population Structure (GPS), to a cohort of 367 exclusively Yiddish-speaking and multilingual AJs genotyped on the Genochip microarray. GPS localized most AJs along major ancient trade routes in northeastern Turkey adjacent to primeval villages with names that may be derived from the word "Ashkenaz." These findings were compatible with the hypothesis of an Irano-Turko-Slavic origin for AJs and a Slavic origin for Yiddish and at odds with the Rhineland hypothesis advocating a German origin of both. Our approach has been recently adopted by Flegontov et al. (2016a) to trace the origin of the Siberian Ket people and their language. Recently, Flegontov et al. (2016b) have raised several questions concerning the accuracy of the Genochip microarray and GPS, specifically in relation to AJs and Yiddish. Although many of these issues have been addressed in our previous papers, we take this opportunity to clarify the principles of the GPS approach, review the recent biogeographical and ancient DNA findings regarding AJs, and comment on the origin of Yiddish.