Eran Elhaik / Missing Link 2013
artifact
A 2013 study tried to prove modern Jews descend from the Khazars using DNA — and other scientists said the method was broken.
Who they are
Eran Elhaik's disputed 2013 genetics paper (the 'Missing Link' study).
What they do
It attempted to revive the idea that Jewish ancestry traces to the medieval Khazars, using genetic evidence.
How it works
It was criticized for using modern Armenians and Georgians as stand-ins for medieval Khazars, even though they aren't valid genetic proxies for those steppe Turkic peoples, and follow-up papers from 2014-2017 rejected the methodology.
Why it matters
The engine records it as a methodologically challenged, widely rejected attempt to give the Khazar theory a scientific footing.
The engine's record — word for word
Report #78. Disputed 2013 paper attempting to revive Khazar-ancestry hypothesis genetically. Methodologically criticized for using modern Armenians + Georgians as Khazar proxies (they are not genetic proxies for medieval Pontic-steppe Turkic populations). Primary counter-critic response papers 2014-2017 rejected the methodology.
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