2025/05/15 by Elena S. Gusareva, Amit Gourav Ghosh, V. N. Kharkov +45 · 2 voices · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies #Forensic and Genetic Research #Race, Genetics, and Society
paper · doi:10.1126/science.adk5081
openalex publication_date 2025/05/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Genome sequencing of 1537 individuals from 139 ethnic groups reveals the genetic characteristics of understudied populations in North Asia and South America. Our analysis demonstrates that West Siberian ancestry, represented by the Kets and Nenets, contributed to the genetic ancestry of most Siberian populations. West Beringians, including the Koryaks, Inuit, and Luoravetlans, exhibit genetic adaptation to Arctic climate, including medically relevant variants. In South America, early migrants split into four groups-Amazonians, Andeans, Chaco Amerindians, and Patagonians-~13,900 years ago. Their longest migration led to population decline, whereas settlement in South America's diverse environments caused instant spatial isolation, reducing genetic and immunogenic diversity. These findings highlight how population history and environmental pressures shaped the genetic architecture of human populations across North Asia and South America.