Abstract
Genetic and archaeological studies have established a sub-Saharan African origin for anatomically modern humans with subsequent migrations out of Africa. Using the largest multi-locus data set known to date, we investigated genetic differentiation of early modern humans, human admixture and migration events, and relationships among ancestries and language groups. We compiled publicly available genome-wide genotype data on 5,966 individuals from 282 global samples, representing 30 primary language families. The best evidence supports 21 ancestries that delineate genetic structure of present-day human populations. Independent of self-identified ethno-linguistic labels, the vast majority (97.3%) of individuals have mixed ancestry, with evidence of multiple ancestries in 96.8% of samples and on all continents. The data indicate that continents, ethno-linguistic groups, races, ethnicities, and individuals all show substantial ancestral heterogeneity. We estimated correlation coefficients ranging from 0.522 to 0.962 between ancestries and language families or branches. Ancestry data support the grouping of Kwadi-Khoe, Kx’a, and Tuu languages, support the exclusion of Omotic languages from the Afroasiatic language family, and do not support the proposed Dené-Yeniseian language family as a genetically valid grouping. Ancestry data yield insight into a deeper past than linguistic data can, while linguistic data provide clarity to ancestry data.
Highlights
It is possible to trace the migratory paths of anatomically modern humans using genetic data
Using a graph-based model of gene flow to estimate migration events from ancestry-specific allele frequencies[37], we find evidence for migration events in the distant past
Consistent with prior findings[2, 11], ancestral heterogeneity is observed in the vast majority of individuals and samples and on all continents, as well as in racial and ethnic groups
Summary
It is possible to trace the migratory paths of anatomically modern humans using genetic data. Initial efforts to characterize the movement of early humans in relation to ancestry grouped populations according to five geographical regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe/the Middle East/Central Asia/South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and the Americas[9]. Using a graph-based model of gene flow to estimate migration events from ancestry-specific allele frequencies[37], we find evidence for migration events in the distant past. These abundant genomic data provide an exciting opportunity to test linguistic hypotheses involving multiple language families. Consistent with prior findings[2, 11], ancestral heterogeneity is observed in the vast majority of individuals and samples and on all continents, as well as in racial and ethnic groups
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