On January 3rd 2018, researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Copenhagen announced that their DNA analysis of the 11,500 year old remains of a Native American child, has revealed evidence of a previously unknown early population of humans believed to be the first to settle in the Americas. The child was a baby girl whose genome is the oldest and now the most complete genetic profile of a human in the new world.
The cremated remains of a six week old was discovered in an archeological site in central Alaska called Upward Sun River in 2010. Two other infants were actually found, one the body of a still born and the other a 3 year old. DNA was extracted from one of the bones in 2013. The genes were then compared to the DNA of other ancient and modern people and a family tree was created. The researchers discovered that this group of Native Americans diverged from their Asian ancestors 25,000 years ago.
This new group of Native Americans is being called the Ancient Beringians. They predate other native groups that appeared in the region around 17,000 and 14,000 year ago. Most Native Americans are believed to have originated in Siberia. The researchers are as yet unable to determine if the Ancient Beringians genome split in Siberia or after they arrived on this continent.
No comments:
Post a Comment