Are one in 200 men alive today truly descendants of Genghis Khan?

Common lineage likely originated 1,000 years before the Mongol conqueror built his empire

26 Feb, 12:29 — 27 Feb, 04:00

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Why this matters

The claim that one in 200 men alive today are descendants of Genghis Khan has been a widely cited piece of popular science and history, often used to illustrate the profound genetic legacy of powerful historical figures. This story matters because new genetic analyses are challenging this long-held belief, suggesting the common lineage predates Genghis Khan and offering a more nuanced understanding of historical population movements and genetic inheritance.

⚠Only covered by left-leaning sources

ℹOnly 2 sources cover this story

Key entities

Genghis KhanMongol conqueror and founder of the Mongol Empire Golden HordeHistorical Mongol state whose skeletal remains were DNA analyzed Mongol EmpireHistorical empire founded by Genghis Khan

Coverage Timeline

First report: The Independent · 26 Feb, 12:29|Full coverage: All 2 sources within 16h|Window: 16h

The Independent26 Feb, 12:29First to report