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A family tree surprise: Genghis

That's the Genghis, 13th century Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan. A DNA test confirms the connection.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 4, 2006

MIAMI - A British research firm recently combed 25,000 DNA samples searching for a modern descendant of Genghis Khan from outside the Mongolian warlord's ancient empire.

They found the first one: a University of Miami accounting professor.

Tom Robinson, a 48-year-old Palmetto Bay resident, has taken the news with amiable modesty. In some quarters, he's being treated like the guy who walks into a store and finds out he's the millionth customer. The Mongolian ambassador to the United States plans to invite him as an honored guest to his Washington embassy.

They're an unlikely pair, the emperor and the accountant. Genghis was known as the type of guy who would conquer villages across two continents, murder entire tribes and take thousands of female partners. Robinson, on the other hand, just returned from a cruise to Alaska with his wife of 25 years.

"I think I do have a certain number of administrative skills," Robinson said. "I haven't done any conquering, per se."

Despite their disparate lifestyles, the link is backed by strong genetic evidence, according to Bryan Sykes, an Oxford University geneticist who conducted the research for his private company, Oxford Ancestors. Robinson's Y chromosome bears seven of nine genetic markers identical to the Genghis genetic signature - remarkably close considering the two men lived more than 700 years apart, Sykes said.

The Genghis genetic mark was discovered in 2003 by a group of 23 international geneticists, who found that 8 percent of all males in large parts of Asia carry startlingly similar genetic markers. Those markers are historically traceable to areas ruled by Genghis and his sons.

Women can learn if they are descended from Genghis only through male relatives because only men have a Y chromosome.

No one has tested Genghis' DNA because his tomb has never been found. Though Genghis is believed to have 16 million Asian descendants, Robinson is the first Caucasian linked to the 13th century marauder, Sykes said.

How did those genes make it to Robinson's ancestral home in England? That remains a mystery. It's possible Robinson's ancestors traveled from Ukraine - the edge of the Mongol empire - on Viking slave ships, Sykes said.

Genetics are big business for Sykes, who wrote a bestselling book called The Seven Daughters of Eve, which fueled an international interest in genetic familial ties.

For $320, Sykes tells customers which ancient tribes they may be linked to, based on genetic markers.

Customers swab their mouths and send away for results. The Genghis genetic analysis was not part of the program when Robinson sent his DNA in early 2003. Robinson had been researching his family.

His initial report suggested a possible link with Central Europeans, but Robinson had many unanswered questions. Since then, Sykes began looking for more Genghis descendants among previous clients.

Last month, one of Sykes' assistants left word on Robinson's answering machine that he had some special news about Robinson's ancestry.

Robinson was pleased to learn it was Genghis Khan and has since read more about his long-lost ancestor.

He plans to travel to Mongolia in the near future to meet his brethren.

"Maybe I have a yak and a couple of acres of land somewhere coming to me," he said.

[Last modified June 4, 2006, 05:40:43]