The Enduring Genetic Continuity of the Iranian Population Over Five Millennia

A Genetic Crossroads Since Prehistory
Iran's geographical position made it a natural corridor for early modern humans as they left Africa tens of thousands of years ago. Over the millennia, various groups traversed or settled in the region, including Indo-European tribes such as the Scythians, Medes, and Persians; Arab conquerors during the 7th century CE; and Turkic-speaking peoples from Central Asia. Given such a diverse migratory history, one might expect the modern Iranian gene pool to be a mosaic of dramatic genetic shifts. However, genetic evidence tells a more nuanced story.