● DNA: DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, contains the instructions for the development and functioning of living organisms. It is made up of 4 nucleotides: A, tT, C and G.
● Mitochondrial DNA: genome of the mitochondria.
● Allele: version of a gene.
● Ancestor: ancestor
● Autosomes: one of the 22 chromosomes that are inherited biparentally (one from the mother, one from the father). Each one is present in two copies in women and men.
● Caucasus: Region that lies between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It includes the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia.
● Cell: minimum functional unit of living beings. Cell size: 0.000006 meters in diameter.
● Zygote: cell that results from the union of the ovum and the sperm, from which the embryo develops.
● Clado: an evolutionary branch.
● Chromosome: contains the genetic material (genes). DNA organization unit. Of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human genome, 22 are "autosomes" and the other pair "sexual". Women have two X chromosomes while men have one X and one Y.
● Sex chromosome: chromosomes that determine the sex of an individual. In humans, the sex chromosomes are called X and Y. Women have two X chromosomes while men have one X and one Y.
● Gene drift: a random change in the allele frequencies of a population due to variations in the contribution of each individual to the next generation.
● Genetic differentiation: a process in which the genetic makeup of two or more populations, isolated from each other, diverges over time.
● Genetic diversity: variability in the genomes of individuals belonging to different populations.
● Eurasia: geographical area comprising Europe and Asia together.
● DNA extraction: a process in which DNA is obtained from a biological sample, such as saliva or blood.
● Phenotype: physical expression of a trait
● Gene: minimum unit of inheritance and contains the instructions to create a protein (or a molecule with a specific action)
● Genetics: study of heredity
● Genome: set of chromosomes of an individual. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Length of the human genome: 2 meters. Dogs have 39 pairs of chromosomes. Children possess half the genome of the father and half of the mother.
● Reference Genomes/Populations: data from people that share similarity in their genomes and represent together a specific group/population.
● Genotyping: process by which the genotype of an individual is determined
● Genotype: pairs of genes responsible for a particular trait
● Haplogroup: Applies to mitochondrial DNA or Y chromosome haplotypes defined by the presence of mutations (has phylogenetic stability)
● Haplotype: A combination of alleles in the same DNA molecule, which are inherited together.
● Genetic inheritance: Transmission from generation to generation of the biological characteristics of living beings.
● Holocene: On the geological scale, the Holocene begins approximately 11,6000 years before the present when the last ice age ended. It is in this postglacial period that most human cultures developed.
● Mediterranean Levant: Territory to which the area of the Middle East is named, which currently includes the countries of Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Jordan.
● Single parent lineage: inheritance received from only one of the parents.
● Genetic marker: DNA segment that has a specific physical position in the genome and can be used to trace the history of individuals and populations. A marker can be a single nucleotide (such as a SNP), a gene, or another region of the genome.
● Genetic mixture: Formation of a hybrid population by mixing two ancestral populations.
● Microarray: a collection of DNA spots (spots) on a solid surface that is used for the parallel processing of a significant number of SNPs. It is generally used for the purpose of genotyping individuals.
● Migration: movement of a population (or individual) from one area to another.
● Mitochondria: cellular structure responsible for the generation of energy, present in thousands of copies in cells. The mitochondrion has its own genome that is inherited maternally, from mother to child.
● Molecule: a small unit of atoms that has all the physical and chemical properties of a substance.
● Mutation: Change in genetic information (DNA). Before cell division, DNA has to be duplicated. During this duplication process, changes can occur in the DNA sequence. Mutations occur spontaneously. This may or may not have an effect. Mutations that are passed on to the next generation occur in sex cells (sperm and eggs).
● Nucleus: cellular structure that contains the chromosomes of an organism.
● Nucleotide: Molecular component of DNA (A, T, C, G)
● Organelle: functional structures found within cells.
● Pleistocene: On the geological scale, the Pleistocene was a period from 3 million years to 11,500 years before present. It was characterized by having several glacial periods and the last one was approximately 12,000 years ago, ending this era.
● Beringia/Beringia Bridge: Piece of land that connects North America and Eurasia through the Bering Strait.
● Sequence: order in which nucleotides are found in the genome.
● SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism): A single nucleotide mutation at a specific position in the genome. For example: A -> T.
● Last Glacial Maximum: Climatic period where the volume of ice on the earth had its maximum level. It happened 18-22 thousand years ago.
● Paleolithic: In human history, the Paleolithic is the oldest prehistoric period. Its etymology means ancient stone and goes from 3 million years to 12,000 years before the present and during this period the ancient humans used carved stone tools and were hunter-gatherer nomads.
● Mesolithic: The Mesolithic marked the end of hunter-gatherer societies, 12,000 years before the present and it was in this period that the first human settlements began.
● Neolithic: In this period humans practiced agriculture and animal grazing about 7,000 years before the present.
