The scientists suggest that the emergence of patrilineal social systems played a more significant role in the decline of the Y chromosome’s genetic diversity. They arrived at this conclusion after analyzing anthropological field data from non-warlike patrilineal groups, primarily in Asia, for two decades. The team compared two hypothetical scenarios: one involving warrior societies and another without warfare. Their findings revealed that two primary factors influenced genetic diversity: the division of clans into multiple sub-clans and social status differences that led to the expansion of specific lineages at the expense of others.
Contrary to the previous theory, the scientists propose that these factors within patrilineal social systems, rather than warfare, were the more influential drivers of the decline in Y chromosome genetic diversity.