New Delhi: The question of where Indians originated from has sparked extensive debate, with theories ranging from Arctic origins to migrations through the steppes into South Asia. A recent genetic study has shed new light on this topic, offering surprising revelations that contribute to the understanding of Indian ancestry.Diverse Ancestry: A challenge in tracing originsWith a population of 1.4 billion people, the diversity among Indians has posed a significant challenge in unraveling their origin story. However, a groundbreaking genomic study has identified the ancestral roots of Indians in three distinct groups, tracing back to a migration that commenced 50,000 years ago.Three ancestral groups identifiedThe study, conducted by researchers from the All Indian Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), University of Michigan, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Southern California, and UC Berkeley, identified three ancestral groups that have contributed to the genetic makeup of Indians over millennia. These groups include Iranian farmers, Eurasian Steppe cattle farmers, and South Asian hunter-gatherers.Surprising genetic diversityA particularly surprising finding of the genomic analysis was the presence of genetic diversity inherited from Neanderthals and Denisovans among modern-day Indians. Notably, there have been no fossil discoveries of Denisovans in India, making this revelation even more intriguing.The study revealed a significant demographic shift towards endogamy among Indians, where individuals increasingly married within their communities, leading to genetic homogeneity within certain groups.Tracing genetic rootsResearchers examined ancient DNA from populations with Iranian origins predating genetic influences in India. Through simulations, they identified genetic patterns most closely resembling those observed in contemporary Indians. The DNA of farmers from Sarazm, an ancient agricultural center in present-day Tajikistan, emerged as the closest match.Approximately 90% of Neanderthal genes found in human populations were detected in the genomes of 2,700 individuals of Indian descent studied, highlighting ancient genetic mixing.Insights into population historyThe study reaffirmed that the majority of genetic variation in Indians can be traced back to a single major migration out of Africa around 50,000 years ago. The findings underscore the importance of expanding genomic surveys to diverse populations beyond Europe to gain a comprehensive understanding of human ancestry.This research provides valuable insights into Indias population history and emphasizes the significance of broadening genomic studies to encompass diverse global populations, concluded the researchers in their preprint paper.
