Posted on 06/22/2004 9:49:06 AM PDT by blam
Genghis Khan: Father to Millions?
By Rossella Lorenzi, Discovery News
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20040621/gallery/genghis_goto.jpg>
Statue of the Mongol Emperor
June 22, 2004 Genghis Khan left a legacy shared by 16 million people alive today, according to a book by a Oxford geneticist who identified the Mongol emperor as the most successful alpha male in human history.
Regarded by the Mongolians as the father of their nation, Genghis Khan was born around 1162. A military and political genius, he united the tribes of Mongolia and conquered half of the known world with a cavalry riding on grass-fed ponies.
By the time Genghis died in 1227, his empire stretched from the Pacific coast of China to the Caspian Sea.
Bryan Sykes, professor of human genetics at Oxford University and author of "Adam's Curse," a study of the Y chromosome, believes Genghis's "super Y" chromosome survived and proliferated as far as the British Isles. He has just begun to check it at Oxford Ancestors, a leading provider of DNA-based services for use in personal ancestry research.
"We will offer British men genetic tests to see if they are Genghis's descendants. It is possible that the Mongol emperor's Y chromosome spread as far as the U.K. through gradual immigration from further East over the centuries," Sykes told Discovery News.
The genetic testing follows another Oxford study, which involved a survey of the Y chromosome which is passed unchanged from father to son from all over Central Asia.
The researchers found one Y chromosome fingerprint that was identical in eight percent of the male population.
"This was highly unusual and suggested that they may all have descended from one man living in the fairly recent past. By seeing what small changes had occurred, it was possible to estimate the time at which this common ancestor lived, and it was consistent with an origin in the 12th or 13th century," Sykes said.
Matching that evidence with the overlap between where the chromosome was abundant and the geographical extent of the Mongol empire established by Genghis Khan in the 12th century, the researchers concluded it was Genghis' chromosome.
The Mongol emperor's habit of killing the men and inseminating the women when his army conquered a new territory, coupled with handing the Empire and other wealth to his sons, and their sons, would explain how the chromosome came to such prevalence today, said Sykes.
The final piece of evidence came from the Hazara, a hill tribe in Pakistan who had a strong oral history of being descended from Genghis Khan.
"The Y chromosome was present in the Hazara, but not in the surrounding tribes, who did not have this oral history. Though the evidence is circumstantial, it is, I believe, very strong," Sykes said.
Finding Genghis Khan's tomb, one of the great secrets of all time, could provide the definitive evidence, leading to a direct comparison of Genghis' Y chromosome with those of modern men.
Sykes' hypothesis seems to be consistent with history, according to David Morgan, a Mongol history specialist at the University of Wisconsin.
"There's no reason to doubt that Genghis Khan fathered a good crop of children, if one is to believe the testimony of contemporaries," Morgan told Discovery News.
Sow them oats.
I've heard that the Jewish name "Cohen" comes from "Khan" as well.
Is this a taxpayer funded study? (Oops, stupid question). Kahn made sure his burial site would never be found.
Ahhh Genghis. Where are you now that we really need you (in Iraq)?
All that inbreeding doubtless led to some Mongoloids.
I've read that it may relate to 'Han' too.
Christian Designs Found In Tomb Stones Of Eastern Han Dynasty
It's true!
It means, "He Who Can Get Armor At The Friendly Price."
<|:)~
That's a pretty offensive remark.
"KHHHAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!"
William Shatner as Admiral James T. Kirk Star Trek II
Feh.
No. "Cohen" is Hebrew for "priest." Those who bear the name "Cohen" are likely descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... and Levi, not from Genghis Kahn.
If you used an ethnic slur as part of some joke, people would come down on you, you know.
and inseminating the women when his army conquered a new territory
*** Now I've never heard rape being called 'inseminating' before... that's pretty new to me!
I wonder if James Cahn is related to Ghengis and Kubli? And what about Shaka Kahn? :o)
Not really. But it is hard to be offended while giggling.
Then I suppose you've never had that particular remark directed at someone you love. I don't care if it is a pun, it's a very insensitive word. If he'd made some sort of a pun featuring, oh, "Jap", would that be funny, too?
I thought mongoloid was the old term for down's syndrome affected people.
Very interesting.
I suddenly crave Mongolian BBQ for lunch.
why you talk about me like that?
LOL
BTTT
Mongoloid. It is a slur refering to people with Downs Syndrome. It's at least 50 years out of date and extremely offensive.
Genghis brought home the bacon so no one knew...
Now now, we mustn't be judgmental. < /whining liberal>
"There's no reason to doubt that Genghis Khan fathered a good crop of children,
Fathered? Good crop? Good Grief!
No offense intended, but I didn't know the term wasn't used any more. I thought it referred to some characteristics in the eye folds (among other physical characteristics) in those afflicted with Down's syndrome. As a kid I remember that term, not as a slur, but as the name more common than Down's syndrome.
Was I mistaken?
No you're not. Mongoloid was originally part of the race theory of human beings, and then it became associated with down's syndrome. Those afflicted with the condition often times took on the eye characteristics of 'Mongoloids'and as such today it's not used anymore because it's seen as offensive because you're associating mental disorder with a group of people.
It may have been inoffensive once, but... it's really more in how it's used. People don't use "mongoloid" affectionately, they use it as a slur. Or as a way to objectify a person- "that mongoloid kid", something along those lines. The only people I've ever heard using the term were being offensive. It's like people who say "tard" to refer to someone who's mentally retarded.
If you used it in front of a friend or family member of someone who has Downs Syndrome, you'd either be politely educated, or slugged, depending on whether they thought you were being intentionally rude.
Genghis Khan was a great man.
H establlished one of the world's first non-sectarin states - all religions were tolerated. As a matter of fact, some of the Khan's court and successors were Christians. He personally abolished the use of torture. He always made an overture of alliance to his enemies and only destroyed them when they refused and insulted his ambassadors. He was one of the first to grant envoys protected status.
Ghengis was a great man. WE, the U.S., could use someone like him now. If he were in charge Fallujah wopuld be toast, as would be Iran and Mr. Sadr and his followers.
Yeah but all his kids turned out to be Mongoloids....sorry.
In 800 years Clinton can have a legacy too.
Where exactly in Pennsyltucky are you ? LOL , Lighten up !
LOL
You know it's sometimes hard to keep up with what words are 'in' and what words are 'out'. Instead of jumping on Martin wouldn't it be better to assume he didn't know he was using an 'out' word? You could have explained it in your first post rather than getting angry. While you're at it, do you know why the word oriental is out and asian is in?
In the year 1999 (911)? and sept,
A great King of Terror will come from the sky.
He will bring back the great King Genghis Khan.
Before and after Mars rules happily. - Nostradamus
Everyone but Kravitz thinks he is full of crap.
My sister thinks it is President Bush.
Are you saying that your sister thinks that President Bush is Genghis Khan?
I wasn't jumping on him, I was correcting him. That's why I didn't scream at him and say something rude, or call in the moderators.
Don't know... I do know she wants to see Fahrenheit 911. She was locked up with snobby American students in Japan, and came back a real liberal. I should have her kidnapped and deprogrammed.
"He personally abolished the use of torture."
Somehow I find this hard to believe.
Ha ha. I spoke to my sister last night. She's down on Bush as well. I use lot's of diplomacy with her, because it's mainly her liberal husband and friends twisting her mind.
You are a great conservative. I'm sure that you will be
succesful in helping your sister out. Good luck. : )
(p.s. I love your profile page on FR! God bless.)
Thanks :) Oh yeah one good thing... she's voting for Nader *lol*
There is a new book out on the biography of Genghis Khan. He did ban the use of torture. He killed his enemies, he didn't torure them.
Unfortunately, some of his successors re-adopted this vicious practise.
Actually it was a great book. I can't remember the name of the author, but I pulled it out of the New Book section of my library last month.
Genghis Khan was a great man. He knew the secret of fighting and winning wars - kill you enemies as quickly and thoroughly as possible and always do the unexpected and attack from where least anticipated.
We need him in Iraq and Iran.


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