Long-term genetic stability and a high-altitude East Asian origin for the peoples of the high valleys of the Himalayan arc

The high-altitude transverse valleys [>3,000 m above sea level (masl)] of the Himalayan arc from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladahk were among the last habitable places permanently colonized by prehistoric humans due to the challenges of resource scarcity, cold stress, and hypoxia. The modern populations of these valleys, who share cultural and linguistic affinities with peoples found today on the Tibetan plateau, are commonly assumed to be the descendants of the earliest inhabitants of the Himalayan arc. However, this assumption has been challenged by archaeological and osteological evidence suggesting that these valleys may have been originally populated from areas other than the Tibetan plateau, including those at low elevation. To investigate the peopling and early population history of this dynamic high-altitude contact zone, we sequenced the genomes (0.04x-7.25x, mean 2.16x) and mitochondrial genomes (20.8x-1,311.0x, mean 482.1x) of eight individuals dating to three periods with distinct material culture in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) of Nepal, spanning 3,150-1,250 y before present (yBP). We demonstrate that the region is characterized by long-term stability of the population genetic make-up despite marked changes in material culture. The ancient genomes, uniparental haplotypes, and high-altitude adaptive alleles suggest a high-altitude East Asian origin for prehistoric Himalayan populations.

Ozga, Andrew T.Univ Oklahoma, Dept Anthropol, Norman, OK 73019 USA (author)
Witonsky, David B.Univ Chicago, Dept Human Genet, Chicago, IL 60637 USA (author)
Malmström, HelenaUppsala universitet,Människans evolution,Uppsala Univ, Dept Organismal Biol, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden(Swepub:uu)hemal172 (author)
Edlund, HannaUppsala universitet,Människans evolution,Uppsala Univ, Dept Organismal Biol, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden(Swepub:uu)hasty226 (author)
Hofman, Courtney A.Univ Oklahoma, Dept Anthropol, Norman, OK 73019 USA (author)
Hagan, Richard W.Univ Oklahoma, Dept Anthropol, Norman, OK 73019 USA (author)
Jakobsson, MattiasUppsala universitet,Människans evolution,Uppsala Univ, Dept Organismal Biol, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden(Swepub:uu)matja323 (author)
Lewis, Cecil M.Univ Oklahoma, Dept Anthropol, Norman, OK 73019 USA (author)
Aldenderfer, Mark S.Univ Calif Merced, Sch Social Sci Humanities & Arts, Merced, CA 95343 USA (author)
Di Rienzo, AnnaUniv Chicago, Dept Human Genet, Chicago, IL 60637 USA (author)
Warinner, ChristinaUniv Oklahoma, Dept Anthropol, Norman, OK 73019 USA;Univ Zurich, Inst Evolut Med, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland (author)
Univ Chicago, Dept Human Genet, Chicago, IL 60637 USAUniv Oklahoma, Dept Anthropol, Norman, OK 73019 USA (creator_code:org_t)

In:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America: NATL ACAD SCIENCES113:27, s. 7485-74900027-84241091-6490

By the author/editor: Jeong, Choongwon; Ozga, Andrew T.; Witonsky, David ...; Malmström, Helen ...; Edlund, Hanna; Hofman, Courtney ...; show more...; Hagan, Richard W ...; Jakobsson, Matti ...; Lewis, Cecil M.; Aldenderfer, Mar ...; Di Rienzo, Anna; Warinner, Christ ...; show less...

About the subject

Kungliga biblioteket hanterar dina personuppgifter i enlighet med EU:s dataskyddsförordning (2018), GDPR. Läs mer om hur det funkar här.
Så här hanterar KB dina uppgifter vid användning av denna tjänst.