Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41595500›Full record

ArticleGenes2026

At the Crossroads of Continents: Ancient DNA Insights into the Maternal and Paternal Population History of Croatia.

Damir Marjanović, Jelena Šarac, Dubravka Havaš Auguštin, Mario Novak, Željana Bašić, Ivana Kružić, Natalija Novokmet, Olivia Cheronet, Pere Gelabert, Ron Pinhasi and 2 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Genes, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Damir MarjanovićCentre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Jelena ŠaracCentre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-9531-0973
Dubravka Havaš AuguštinCentre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Mario NovakCentre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Željana BašićFaculty of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia.
Ivana KružićFaculty of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia.
Natalija NovokmetCentre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-0802-650X
Olivia CheronetDepartment of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-6760-1204
Pere GelabertDepartment of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-3019-0725
Ron PinhasiDepartment of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-1629-8131
Gordan LaucGenos Glycoscience Research Laboratory, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Dragan PrimoracSt. Catherine Specialty Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-5565-080X

Funding

Austrian Science Fund 10.55776/P36433Institute for Anthropological Research BioAntroPop
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesSoutheastern Europe and Croatia have served as a genetic crossroads between the Near East and Europe since prehistoric times, shaped by numerous and repeated migrations. By integrating 19 newly generated ancient genomes with 285 previously published ancient genomes from Croatia, we investigated patterns of maternal and paternal landscapes from the Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages through to the Antiquity and medieval periods, as well as the modern Croatian population.

methodsAncient DNA extraction from human remains and library preparation were conducted in dedicated clean-room facilities, followed by high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina platform. Sequencing data were analyzed with established pipelines to determine mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal haplogroups and the genetic sex of individuals.

resultsNew ancient data reveal a predominantly European maternal profile, dominated by haplogroups H, U, and HV0, whereas Y-chromosomal lineages are characterized by J subclades and R1a, with limited representation of R1b and the absence of I2a. When combined with published ancient Croatian genomes, the results reveal similar haplogroup diversity and patterns, as well as the expansion of mtDNA haplogroup H over time and a substantial increase in Y-chromosome R1a and I2a haplogroup frequency from the prehistoric to the modern period.

conclusionsAlthough the analyzed samples are heterogeneous and originate from different historical periods, their genetic signatures conform to the broader patterns expected for the region. In a wider context, the ancient Croatian mitochondrial data reveal stronger genetic persistence from prehistory to modern times, unlike paternal lineages, which show significantly higher divergence.

Indexed as

Chromosomes, Human, YDNA, AncientDNA, MitochondrialCroatiaFemaleGenetics, PopulationHaplotypesHistory, AncientHumansMaleDNA, AncientDNA, Mitochondrialancient DNACroatian (pre)historymtDNAY chromosome

Identifiers

PMID41595500
PMCPMC12841005

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