Genetics and Identity: The Reduction of History to Biology

This article examines the growing tendency to explain cultural and religious identities through genetic lineages, particularly Y-chromosome haplogroups such as J2. While population genetics offers valuable insights into human migrations and demographic history, its results are often misinterpreted as evidence of direct ethnic or civilizational continuity. The study argues that genetic markers trace only limited biological lineages and cannot explain the historical formation of cultural or religious identities. Drawing on research in population genetics and historical studies, the article highlights the methodological gap between biological ancestry and the complex historical processes that shape identity. This article is part of the research project Alawites: A Story Yet Unfinished by Helin Abbas.