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Saga from the Prehistoric Graveyards: Ancient DNA Technology is rewriting the population history of the Indian subcontinent


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1 Department of Physiology, City College, 102/1 Raja Ramomohan Sarani, Kolkata- 700009, India
     

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The present population of the Indian subcontinent has been formed by the Homo sapiens who migrated to this land as a part of the Out of Africa (OOA) migration [approximately 65000 years before present (YBP)] and multiple other migrations viz., the so called ‘Aryan’ migration (3500-4000 YBP). Analysis of the Indus Valley Civilization fossils using recently developed ‘ancient DNA technology’ revealed no Pontic steppe DNA (Aryan / Yamnaya DNA) and they are found to be the genetic stock of the most people living in subcontinent today. In contrast, at least 17.5% modern North Indians (mostly Brahmins) bear the Y chromosome marker (R1a haplogroups) from the Eurasian steppe, indicating a heavily sex biased (male dominated) infiltration during Bronze age. This finding substantially established Aryan migration in the Indian subcontinent.

Keywords

aDNA, R1a haplogroup, IVC, Aryan migration, Yamnaya.
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  • Saga from the Prehistoric Graveyards: Ancient DNA Technology is rewriting the population history of the Indian subcontinent

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Authors

Pallab Sarkar
Department of Physiology, City College, 102/1 Raja Ramomohan Sarani, Kolkata- 700009, India

Abstract


The present population of the Indian subcontinent has been formed by the Homo sapiens who migrated to this land as a part of the Out of Africa (OOA) migration [approximately 65000 years before present (YBP)] and multiple other migrations viz., the so called ‘Aryan’ migration (3500-4000 YBP). Analysis of the Indus Valley Civilization fossils using recently developed ‘ancient DNA technology’ revealed no Pontic steppe DNA (Aryan / Yamnaya DNA) and they are found to be the genetic stock of the most people living in subcontinent today. In contrast, at least 17.5% modern North Indians (mostly Brahmins) bear the Y chromosome marker (R1a haplogroups) from the Eurasian steppe, indicating a heavily sex biased (male dominated) infiltration during Bronze age. This finding substantially established Aryan migration in the Indian subcontinent.

Keywords


aDNA, R1a haplogroup, IVC, Aryan migration, Yamnaya.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.24906/isc%2F2020%2Fv34%2Fi5%2F206995