The formation of human populations in South and Central Asia
Harvard University · Broad Institute · +65 more institutions
Abstract
By sequencing 523 ancient humans, we show that the primary source of ancestry in modern South Asians is a prehistoric genetic gradient between people related to early hunter-gatherers of Iran and Southeast Asia. After the Indus Valley Civilization's decline, its people mixed with individuals in the southeast to form one of the two main ancestral populations of South Asia, whose direct descendants live in southern India. Simultaneously, they mixed with descendants of Steppe pastoralists who, starting around 4000 years ago, spread via Central Asia to form the other main ancestral population. The Steppe ancestry in South Asia has the same profile as that in Bronze Age Eastern Europe, tracking a movement of people…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 58.83
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 140
Authors
117- VMVagheesh M. NarasimhanCorresponding
Harvard University
- NPNick PattersonCorresponding
Broad Institute, Harvard University, Institute for Advanced Study
- PMPriya MoorjaniCorresponding
University of California, Berkeley
- NRNadin RohlandCorresponding
Broad Institute, Harvard University
- RBRebecca Bernardos
Harvard University
Topics & keywords
- Prehistory
- Central asia
- Geography
- Globe
- Bronze Age
- Population
- East Asia
- Ancient history
Funding
- NSNational Science FoundationAwards: BCS-1460369, BCS-1725067, BCS-1032255, 1032255
- HHHoward Hughes Medical Institute
- BWBurroughs Wellcome Fund
- JTJohn Templeton FoundationAward: 61220
- PGPaul G. Allen Family Foundation
- HUHarvard University
- RSRussian Science FoundationAwards: 14-50-, 14-50-00036
- NINational Institutes of HealthAwards: GM100233, GM007753
- RIRadcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University