Two ancient human genomes reveal Polynesian ancestry among the indigenous Botocudos of Brazil.
Curr Biol
; 24(21): R1035-7, 2014 Nov 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25455029
ABSTRACT
Understanding the peopling of the Americas remains an important and challenging question. Here, we present (14)C dates, and morphological, isotopic and genomic sequence data from two human skulls from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, part of one of the indigenous groups known as 'Botocudos'. We find that their genomic ancestry is Polynesian, with no detectable Native American component. Radiocarbon analysis of the skulls shows that the individuals had died prior to the beginning of the 19th century. Our findings could either represent genomic evidence of Polynesians reaching South America during their Pacific expansion, or European-mediated transport.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Indians, South American
/
Genome, Human
/
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Journal:
Curr Biol
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Denmark