Biology subjects

Yorulmaz, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Yorulmaz, S..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

The mini yet mighty stapes: a comparison of ancient DNA yields among ossicles and the petrous bone

The petrous bone is considered the most efficient source of endogenous DNA across skeletal tissues in ancient DNA research as well as in forensic work. Recently, ancient DNA (aDNA) in auditory ossicle bones was shown to be comparably well-preserved as in the petrous, although no attempt was made to distinguish among the three ossicle bones. In this study, we used a total of 114 human ossicle- and petrous-derived sequencing libraries from similar contexts (c.10,000 BP - 7,000 BP Anatolia), including 34 matched libraries prepared from the same individuals ossicle and petrous bones. Our results suggest that endogenous human aDNA preservation in the stapes is on average two times higher than in the petrous bone; it also tends to be higher than in the malleus and incus. Similarly, aDNA fragment lengths were higher in the stapes than in the petrous, whereas postmortem damage, clonality and contamination rates were comparable. Despite being the smallest bone in the human skeleton, the stapes may be the most optimal aDNA source yet identified.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2024

An age-specific burial practice reflected in ancient DNA preservation in Neolithic Catalhöyük

Selective funerary practices can inform about social relationships in prehistoric societies but are often difficult to discern. Here we present evidence for an age-specific practice at the Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk in Anatolia, dating to the 7th millennium BCE. Among ancient DNA libraries produced from 362 petrous bone samples, those of subadults contained three times higher average human DNA than those of adults. This difference in organic preservation was also confirmed by FTIR analysis. Studying similar datasets from seven prehistoric and historical sites, we found a similar age-related difference in only one cemetery. We propose that the organic preservation difference with age was caused by the special treatment of chosen corpses before interment, such as defleshing or drying, which was more frequently applied to Catalhoyuk adults and promoted organic decay.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Female lineages and changing kinship patterns in Neolithic Catalhöyük

Arguments have long suggested that the advent of early farming in the Near East and Anatolia was linked to a Mother Goddess cult. However, evidence for a dominant female role in these societies has been scarce. We studied social organisation, mobility patterns and gendered practices in Neolithic Southwest Asia using 131 paleogenomes from Catalhoyuk East Mound (7100-5950 BCE), a major settlement in Central Anatolia with an uninterrupted occupation and an apparent egalitarian structure. In contrast to widespread genetic evidence for patrilocality in Neolithic Europe, the Catalhoyuk individuals revealed no indication of patrilocal mobility. Analysing genetic kin ties among individuals buried in the same house (co-burials) across 35 Catalhoyuk buildings, we identified close ties concentrated within buildings and among neighbours in Catalhoyuks Early period, akin to those in the preceding Pre-Pottery Neolithic in Southwest Asia. This pattern weakened over time: by the late 7th millennium BCE, subadults buried in the same building were rarely closely genetically related, despite sharing similar diets. Still, throughout the sites occupation, genetic connections within Catalhoyuk buildings were much more frequently connected via the maternal than the paternal line. We also identified differential funerary treatment of female subadults compared to those of males, with a higher frequency of grave goods associated with females. Our results reveal how kinship practices changed while key female roles persisted over one thousand years in a large Neolithic community in western Eurasia.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Archaeogenetic analysis of Neolithic sheep from Anatolia suggests a complex demographic history since domestication

Sheep was among the first domesticated animals, but its demographic history is little understood. Here we present combined analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear polymorphism data from ancient central and west Anatolian sheep dating to the Late Glacial and early Holocene. We observe loss of mitochondrial haplotype diversity around 7500 BCE during the early Neolithic, consistent with a domestication-related bottleneck. Post-7000 BCE, mitochondrial haplogroup diversity increases, compatible with admixture from other domestication centres and/or from wild populations. Analysing archaeogenomic data, we further find that Anatolian Neolithic sheep (ANS) are genetically closest to present-day European breeds, and especially those from central and north Europe. Our results indicate that Asian contribution to south European breeds in the post-Neolithic era, possibly during the Bronze Age, may explain this pattern.

evolutionary biology↗