Mushrif-Tripathy, V. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Ancient genomes from Ladakh reveal 2800-year-old mixture between Tibetans and South Asians

Reconstructing population history is harder in South Asia than in many other world regions due to a paucity of ancient DNA. We report genome-wide data for ten individuals from Old Lady Spider Cave, which lies 4000 meters above sea level in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, and dates to around 1500 years before present (BP). These individuals were genetically homogeneous and had an ancestry signature rare in South Asians today: admixed in roughly 50-50% proportions between a population well-proxied by present-day North Indians, and another genetically similar to ancient Tibetans. By analyzing the typical sizes of segments of DNA inherited from each of these ancestral populations, we find that mixture of these groups began at least fifty generation before the date of the individuals, that is, by around 2800 BP. TeaserDiscovery of a previously unknown population that lived 2800-1500 years ago in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Like Sugar in Milk: Reconstructing the genetic history of the Parsi population

BackgroundThe Parsis, one of the smallest religious community in the world, reside in South Asia. Previous genetic studies on them, although based on low resolution markers, reported both Iranian and Indian ancestries. To understand the population structure and demographic history of this group in more detail, we analyzed Indian and Pakistani Parsi populations using high-resolution autosomal and uniparental (Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA) markers. Additionally, we also assayed 108 mitochondrial DNA markers among 21 ancient Parsi DNA samples excavated from Sanjan, in present day Gujarat, the place of their original settlement in India.\n\nResultsOur extensive analyses indicated that among present-day populations, the Parsis are genetically closest to Middle Eastern (Iranian and the Caucasus) populations rather than their South Asian neighbors. They also share the highest number of haplotypes with present-day Iranians and we estimate that the admixture of the Parsis with Indian populations occurred [~]1,200 years ago. Enriched homozygosity in the Parsi reflects their recent isolation and inbreeding. We also observed 48% South-Asian-specific mitochondrial lineages among the ancient samples, which might have resulted from the assimilation of local females during the initial settlement.\n\nConclusionsWe show that the Parsis are genetically closest to the Neolithic Iranians, followed by present-day Middle Eastern populations rather than those in South Asia and provide evidence of sex-specific admixture from South Asians to the Parsis. Our results are consistent with the historically-recorded migration of the Parsi populations to South Asia in the 7thcentury and in agreement with their assimilation into the Indian sub-continents population and cultural milieu \"like sugar in milk\". Moreover, in a wider context our results suggest a major demographic transition in West Asia due to Islamic-conquest.

evolutionary biology↗