Chromosomal study suggests people were living in South America as far back as 18,000 years ago

Bob Yirka is a research scientist at Phys.org.

People living in South America as far back as 18,000 years ago have been found to have chromosomal evidence. A paper describing their work has been published.

Scientists have found evidence that people traveled to North America from Siberia up to 17,000 years ago. Evidence suggests that the timelines may have to be pushed back.

The researchers used a chromosomal approach rather than looking for tools or bones left by the first people to travel to South America.

13 people living in Argentina who are thought to be descended from ancient migrants to the region were collected by the researchers. The Y chromosomes were studied as a way to establish a time line. The longest stretch of non-recombinant DNA on the Y chromosomes gives a history of the paternal line.

They compared the data with samples from 80 other people belonging to the Q Haplogroup, who lived in other places, such as Eurasia, and that allowed them to make estimates regarding how long people in South America must have been living there.

The impact on the people living in the area during the Younger Dryas was shown by the researchers. They suggest future work should focus on the impact of the changing environment during that time period.

More information: Paula B. Paz Sepúlveda et al, Human Y chromosome sequences from Q Haplogroup reveal a South American settlement pre-18,000 years ago and a profound genomic impact during the Younger Dryas, PLOS ONE (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271971 Journal information: PLoS ONE

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