Terminal Pleistocene Alaskan genome reveals first founding population of Native Americans
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Ancient Beringians represent a distinct population ancestral to Native Americans, diverging around 22,000 years ago. This study reveals early genetic structuring and migration patterns in the peopling of the Americas.
Area Of Science
- Genetics
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
Background
- The peopling of the Americas, initially via Beringia, remains debated regarding timing and dispersal.
- Late Pleistocene Alaskan human remains are crucial for understanding early American populations.
Observation
- Analysis of the USR1 genome from 11.5 ka Alaskan infant remains revealed a distinct Ancient Beringian population.
- USR1 is basal to all previously sequenced Native American groups, ancient and contemporary.
Findings
- Ancient Beringians and Native American ancestors split from East Asians ~36 ka, with gene flow until ~25 ka.
- Gene flow from Ancient North Eurasians occurred 25-20 ka, with Ancient Beringians branching off ~22-18.1 ka.
- Basal Native American branches diverged ~17.5-14.6 ka south of ice sheets, with later Siberian gene flow into northern groups.
Implications
- Supports the Beringian 'standstill model' of long-term genetic structure in ancestral Native Americans.
- Suggests northern Native American presence in North America resulted from a back migration, replacing Ancient Beringians.