
TheStonerOne
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Why do some studies show Middle Eastern populations as distinct from European populations but others show the two are nigh completely overlapping? Well my friends, this is due to the differences between regional and global studies.
Regional studies
Takes into account nuances that distinguish between populations. Should also be worth noting that this applies WITHIN regions and not merely BETWEEN regions.
Let's analyse this study somewhat. An Iraqi Kurd is rather distinct from a Yemeni. Contrary to Zionist propaganda, there are no major differences between Yemenite-Jews and the various Arabians. That Natufian orange associated most strongly with Arabians is the predominant ancestry of Yemenite-Jews but not of the other Jewish groups. But that anti-Zionist quip isn't relevant. Between regions, there are distinct proportions of admixture.
In this study of Cretans, we can see that Cretans are notably distinguished from Eastern Europeans (despite sharing IBD) as well as Levantines (though to a lesser extent) but are not distinguished from Ashkenazi Jews. Another unnecessary quip. This is a double debunk of both white supremacy and Zionism. If Ashkenazim "maintained their Levantine heritage" why do they ENTIRELY OVERLAP with Cretans and NOT Levantines? To white supremacists, if a "European population" like Cretans is "separate" from Ashkenazi Jews, why can't they be separated from Ashkenazi Jews?!?
Anyway, you get the point. Regional studies showcase regional distinctions. GLOBAL studies showcase GLOBAL distinctions. I.E, because "Natufian ancestry" IS a "Western Eurasian" component like "Northern European ancestry" is, a population that is >90% Natufian will cluster with a population that is >90% Northern European since both ancestries are Western Eurasian.
Wait, why are Iranians clustering with Europeans? Read the above.
There is virtually no distinction between the Middle East and Europe here. Again, whether one population is 92% Natufian vs 92% Sardinian, what matters is proportions of Western Eurasian ancestries.
One last thing. Even in regional contexts, a population from one region may have closer genetic ties to people from another region than to people WITHIN a region. For example:
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Azerbaijan is in West Asia as is Saudi Arabia. Germany is in Europe and Northwestern Europe at that. One would think Azeris would be closer to Saudis than to Germans, right? No.
FST values between Saudis and Azeris is 0.011. FST values between Germans and Azeris is 0.009.
A couple more examples. FST values between Syrians and Sicilians is 0.004. Whereas FST values between Syrians and Saudis is 0.006. Another example is that Sicilians and Germans have FST values of 0.006 whereas Sicilians and Jordanians have FST values of 0.004. That value between Sicilians and Jordanians is lower than what Sicily's value is between all countries in Western/Northern/Eastern/Central Europe.
It is amusing that the term "MENA" is often used. There is quite a genetic distance between the "ME" and the "NA". Egypt being in both West Asia and North Africa seems to have admixture from both, but when we disregard Egypt and focus only on Morocco and Mozabites, we see that with the exception of Arabians, the distance between "ME" and "NA" is usually greater than the distance between "ME" and "EU" and even Arabians aren't particularly close to Maghrebis.
Regional studies
Takes into account nuances that distinguish between populations. Should also be worth noting that this applies WITHIN regions and not merely BETWEEN regions.

Let's analyse this study somewhat. An Iraqi Kurd is rather distinct from a Yemeni. Contrary to Zionist propaganda, there are no major differences between Yemenite-Jews and the various Arabians. That Natufian orange associated most strongly with Arabians is the predominant ancestry of Yemenite-Jews but not of the other Jewish groups. But that anti-Zionist quip isn't relevant. Between regions, there are distinct proportions of admixture.

In this study of Cretans, we can see that Cretans are notably distinguished from Eastern Europeans (despite sharing IBD) as well as Levantines (though to a lesser extent) but are not distinguished from Ashkenazi Jews. Another unnecessary quip. This is a double debunk of both white supremacy and Zionism. If Ashkenazim "maintained their Levantine heritage" why do they ENTIRELY OVERLAP with Cretans and NOT Levantines? To white supremacists, if a "European population" like Cretans is "separate" from Ashkenazi Jews, why can't they be separated from Ashkenazi Jews?!?
Anyway, you get the point. Regional studies showcase regional distinctions. GLOBAL studies showcase GLOBAL distinctions. I.E, because "Natufian ancestry" IS a "Western Eurasian" component like "Northern European ancestry" is, a population that is >90% Natufian will cluster with a population that is >90% Northern European since both ancestries are Western Eurasian.

Wait, why are Iranians clustering with Europeans? Read the above.

There is virtually no distinction between the Middle East and Europe here. Again, whether one population is 92% Natufian vs 92% Sardinian, what matters is proportions of Western Eurasian ancestries.
One last thing. Even in regional contexts, a population from one region may have closer genetic ties to people from another region than to people WITHIN a region. For example:
Genome-wide analysis of Corsican population reveals a close affinity with Northern and Central Italy - PMC
Despite being the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean basin, the genetic variation of Corsica has not been explored as exhaustively as Sardinia, which is situated only 11 km South. However, it is likely that the populations of the two islands ...

Azerbaijan is in West Asia as is Saudi Arabia. Germany is in Europe and Northwestern Europe at that. One would think Azeris would be closer to Saudis than to Germans, right? No.
FST values between Saudis and Azeris is 0.011. FST values between Germans and Azeris is 0.009.
A couple more examples. FST values between Syrians and Sicilians is 0.004. Whereas FST values between Syrians and Saudis is 0.006. Another example is that Sicilians and Germans have FST values of 0.006 whereas Sicilians and Jordanians have FST values of 0.004. That value between Sicilians and Jordanians is lower than what Sicily's value is between all countries in Western/Northern/Eastern/Central Europe.
It is amusing that the term "MENA" is often used. There is quite a genetic distance between the "ME" and the "NA". Egypt being in both West Asia and North Africa seems to have admixture from both, but when we disregard Egypt and focus only on Morocco and Mozabites, we see that with the exception of Arabians, the distance between "ME" and "NA" is usually greater than the distance between "ME" and "EU" and even Arabians aren't particularly close to Maghrebis.