Tag: south asia

Genomic history of South-East Asia: eastern Polynesians, Peninsular Malaysia and North Borneo

Two recent interesting genetic papers:

1. Open Access Investigating the origins of eastern Polynesians using genome-wide data from the Leeward Society Isles, by Hudjashov et al., at Scientific Reports (2018)

Abstract:

The debate concerning the origin of the Polynesian speaking peoples has been recently reinvigorated by genetic evidence for secondary migrations to western Polynesia from the New Guinea region during the 2nd millennium BP. Using genome-wide autosomal data from the Leeward Society Islands, the ancient cultural hub of eastern Polynesia, we find that the inhabitants’ genomes also demonstrate evidence of this episode of admixture, dating to 1,700–1,200 BP.

… Read the rest “Genomic history of South-East Asia: eastern Polynesians, Peninsular Malaysia and North Borneo”

Reconstructing the demographic history of the Himalayan and adjoining populations

Reconstructing the demographic history of the Himalayan and adjoining populations, by Tamang, R., Chaubey, G., Nandan, A. et al. Hum Genet (2018).

Abstract (emphasis mine):

The rugged topography of the Himalayan region has hindered large-scale human migrations, population admixture and assimilation. Such complexity in geographical structure might have facilitated the existence of several small isolated communities in this region. We have genotyped about 850,000 autosomal markers among 35 individuals belonging to the four major populations inhabiting the Himalaya and adjoining regions. In addition, we have genotyped 794 individuals belonging to 16 ethnic groups from the same region, for uniparental

… Read the rest “Reconstructing the demographic history of the Himalayan and adjoining populations”