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Two competing theories about the human occupation of Southeast Asia were contradicted by a revolutionary analysis of ancient DNA extracted from 8,000-year-old skeletons.
Southeast Asia is one of the most genetically based regions For more than 100 years, scientists have disagreed about the theory of the region's population origins.
According to one theory, indigenous Hòabìnhian hunter-gatherers who inhabited Southeast Asia 44,000 years ago adopted independent farming practices. contribution of the first farmers of East Asia. Another theory, referred to as the "two layer model", supports the idea that migrant rice farmers in present-day China have replaced the native Hòabìnhian hunter-gatherers.
Academics from around the world collaborated on new research ] Science which found that no theory is completely accurate. Their study found that current populations in Southeast Asia are derived from at least four older populations.
The DNA of the human skeletons of Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and Japan dates back to 8000 years was extracted for study – scientists had previously managed to sequence than 4,000-year-old samples from the region. The samples also included the DNA of Hòabìnhian hunter-gatherers and a Japanese Jomon – a first scientist, revealing a suspected genetic link between the two populations.
In total, 26 old sequences of the human genome were studied by the group. The pioneering research is particularly impressive because the heat and humidity of Southeast Asia make it one of the most challenging environments for DNA preservation, which poses huge challenges for scientists. 19659003] Professor Eske Willerslev, who holds both positions at St John's College, University of Cambridge, and the University of Copenhagen, led the international study
He explained : "We are deploying tremendous efforts to recover from ancient DNA." Southeast Asia could shed new light on this region of the rich human genetics: the fact that we were able to get 26 human genomes and shed light on the incredible genetic wealth of the groups in the region is amazing today. "
Hugh McColl, PhD student at the Center for GeoGenetics at the Museum of Natural History of Denmark from the University of Copenhagen, and one of the leading authors on paper "By sequencing 26 ancient human genomes – 25 from Southeast Asia, a Japanese Jōmon – we showed that no interpretation corresponded to the complexity of the history of Asi Southeast. Hòabìnhian hunter-gatherers and East Asian farmers have contributed to the current diversity of Southeast Asia, with other migrations affecting the islands of East Asia. Southeast Asia and Vietnam. Our findings help solve one of the longest-running prehistoric controversies in Southeast Asia.
Dr. Fernando Racimo, Assistant Professor at the GeoGenetic Center of the Museum of Natural History of the University of Copenhagen, said: The history of human occupation in Asia of Southeast remains highly debated. Our research focused on the Iron Age Hòabìnhian and found that current populations in Southeast Asia are derived from at least four ancient populations. It's a much more complex model than previously thought.
Some of the samples used in the two-and-a-half year study came from The Duckworth Collection of the University of Cambridge, which is one of the largest deposits of human remains in the world. Professor Marta Mirazón Lahr, Director of Laboratory Duckworth and one of the authors of the article, said: "This study addresses a major question about the origins of the diversity of peoples of South Asia -Is, as well as on the old relations between distant populations, such as Jomon and Hòabìnhian foragers, before agriculture.The fact that we learn so much from ancient genomes, like that of Gua Cha, highlights the l & # 39; importance of amazing collections such as the Duckworth. "
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Materials Provided by University of Cambridge The original story is subject to a Creative Commons License Note: The content can be changed in style and duration.
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