A new study published in Science on May 15 reveals that the first people to colonize the Americas migrated from modern-day Russia. The research indicates that the languages and traditions of Indigenous groups living in the Americas today can be traced back to these early settlers. Traces of their cultures exist in the genes of modern Indigenous groups.
The study also found that the early settlers split into groups that became isolated in different environmental settings. According to Elena Gusareva, the study's lead author, the findings provide a new and cultural understanding of present-day South American communities. Gusareva stated, "[It fills] key gaps in our understanding of how the diverse populations of present-day South America came to be."
Researchers sequenced the genomes of 1,537 individuals from 139 ethnic groups in northern Eurasia and the Americas. They compared these with millions of tiny variations in modern-day Indigenous people's genes to ancient DNA from the first peoples to arrive in the Americas. This created a detailed genetic map.
The analysis corroborates existing archeological evidence, showing the first peoples in the Americas diverged from North Eurasians between 19,300 and 26,800 years ago. Researchers found the closest living relatives of Indigenous North Americans are west Beringian groups, such as the Inuit, Koryaks, and Luoravetlans. Beringia was an ice bridge between modern-day Russia and North America during the Ice Age.
After arriving in South America, the early settlers split into four distinct groups: Amazonian, Andean, Chaco Amerindian, and Patagonian. These groups became isolated in different environments, leading to distinct genetic traits. Gusareva believes natural barriers, such as the Atacama Desert and the Andes mountain range, led to the isolation of these Indigenous groups.
The study also found Indigenous groups have distinct genetic traits, which may have evolved through their adapting to extreme environments and long-term isolation from other groups. For instance, a group of Andean highlanders carries a gene mutation that helps them thrive at high altitudes. Mutations in the gene EPAS1 stimulate new blood vessel formation and produce more red blood cells.
According to Hie Lim Kim, a geneticist at Nanyang Technological University, the research revealed more than 70 gene variations that could increase vulnerability to emerging infectious diseases. Kim stated, "Many of these populations are already small. It's critical to provide tailored healthcare and disease prevention efforts to support their well-being."