Genetic Analysis of Kurdish Jews
An extremely close genetic proximity of Jewish communities and non-Jewish Middle Eastern populations has been observed in several DNA studies. In 2001, a team of German, Indian and Israeli specialists published the results of their research on Y-chromosome polymorphism, that showed that Jews and Kurds are close ethnic relatives. The Jews and Kurds, according to the research, have common ancestors who resided in northern Mesopotamia about 4,000 years ago. The Kurdish Jews, though found genetically close to their Muslim Kurdish neghbours, were still closer related to Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish groups, disproving any significant contribution of Judaism converts to this Jewish community (documented conversion to Judaism occurred in the area during the classic period, among the ruling class of the Parthian client Kingdom of Adiabene). Among the Jewish communities, the closest genetic bond to Muslim Kurds was found among the Ashkenazi Jews, though the sequences were still distinguishable.
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