Native American Populations Spread Through Three Key Migrations

Scientists have found genetic evidence which suggests that the Native American populations in the world arose from three major migrations in history. According to a recent study, most of the Native Americans are descendants of a single group who migrated to America from Asia by crossing an ancient land bridge known as Beringia. The bridge connected Asia with America and was present during the Ice Age, about 15,000 years ago.

In the study, 64 scientists belonging to different countries studied numerous variations in the DNA sequences of Native Americans. The international team of scientists found that three migrations of Native Americans played an important role in their genetic makeup.

Professor Andres Ruiz-Linares, who was part of the study, said that for a long time there had been a debate over whether the Native American settlements in the Americas originated due to a single or multiple migrations from North Asia. He stated that their research finally gave a conclusive answer and negated the view that a single large scale migration was responsible for the spread of the population.

The model of the study was complex and involved the analysis of the DNA of 52 Native American groups. The DNA of 17 Siberian groups was also analyzed. The scientists identified and studied more than 200,000 different variations in the DNA sequences of the population groups. Similarities and differences in the genes of the groups were observed and recorded.

Although it has now been revealed that the Native Americans undertook three migrations, only the first one seems to have made a significant impact on the genes of the people. The subsequent migrations have only impacted the populations living in the Arctic region and the Chipewyan who reside in Canada. However, it has been observed that the majority of the DNA of the above mentioned two populations has still been derived from their ancestors (First Americans), who made the first migration.

The Eskimo-Aleut speaking population of Native Americans, which resides in the Arctic region has obtained 50% of its DNA from the First Americans, while the Chipewyan people have a 50% genetic match with them. This fact reveals that the members of the subsequent migrations interacted with the First Americans and lived together.

The study has also found out that after the migrations to present day North America, the settlements expanded southwards along the coastal areas. This led to the emergence of Native Americans in South American region.