“Redefining Ötzi: Unveiling New Discoveries in the Iceman’s Genetic Legacy”
New Insights into the Iceman’s Ötzi Ancestry Dispel Previous Notions Revisiting the DNA of the famed Iceman has overturned previous assumptions about his lineage. Initially, in 2012, scientists had constructed a comprehensive genetic profile of Ötzi, suggesting his ancestors hailed from the Caspian steppe. However, discrepancies soon emerged.
Ötzi
Ötzi, who is approximately 5,300 years old, predates the appearance of individuals with steppe ancestry in central Europe by about 400 years. Archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, notes that the mummy stood as an outlier in this regard.
In a recent study published on August 16 in Cell Genomics, Krause and his team unveiled a revised genetic blueprint for the Iceman. They discovered that the original genome was significantly contaminated with modern human DNA, leading to erroneous conclusions about his ancestry. The updated analysis indicates the absence of steppe ancestry altogether.
Nevertheless, Ötzi’s genetic makeup still presents peculiarities. Remarkably, around 90 percent of his genetic heritage traces back to Neolithic farmers, a notably high proportion compared to other Copper Age remains.
Furthermore, the new genome exposes surprising traits in the Iceman. Contrary to artistic depictions, Ötzi likely had male-pattern baldness and notably darker skin. Krause explains that genetic variants associated with lighter skin tones only became prevalent 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, coinciding with shifts in diet among early farmers, who consumed fewer vitamin D-rich animal products.
As evidenced by Ötzi’s genetic profile and that of other ancient individuals, the transition to lighter skin in Europe unfolded gradually over millennia. This challenges previous assumptions, revealing that Europeans maintained darker skin tones for a significant portion of their history, akin to their African ancestors. Krause emphasizes that this transition occurred much later in human history than previously believed.
