May 19, 2005 - 09:02 AMT
TURKISH SCHOLAR: NO TURKISH GENE IN PURE FORM
The gene of Turks, who moved to Anatolia from Central Asia along with Seljuks, was not widely spread in this region, officer of National Geographic Spencer Wells considers. This statement was not a surprise for Turkish scholars, as most of them have a similar point of view, reported the Yerkir newspaper. Professor of Faculty of Molecular Biology and Genetics of Istanbul Bogazici University Aslihan Tolun reported that research heald 5-6 years ago along with foreign scholars showed Turks were «multi-elemental». In Tolun's words, «in genetic respect Turks are very much like the Balkan peoples, Caucasians, Armenians and Arabs, however they have peculiarities.» «We never stayed at the same place and easily became close with local populations, preserving our language and our culture. Thus, it is natural there is not Turkish gene in pure form,» said professor of Medical University of Ankara Khakan Shataroghlu.