Genomic Study to Uncover Population History of South Asia

What’s in today’s article?

• Background
• Key Features of the Study
• Expected Outcomes & Modern Relevance
• The Aryan Migration Debate
• Conclusion
• Key Terms for Prelims

Background

• In a ground-breaking move, the Indian government has launched an ambitious scientific study using both ancient and modern genomics to uncover the population history of South Asia.
• This study aims to resolve long-standing debates and conflicting theories about the origins and migration patterns of ancient Indian communities.
• The research is being carried out by the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), which functions under the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, under the Department of Science & Technology.
• The project, titled “Reconstruction of the Population History of South Asia using Ancient and Modern Genomics,” focuses on DNA extracted from ancient skeletal remains to provide new insights into the region's past.

Key Features of the Study

• Scope & Focus:
  • The project involves studying 300 ancient skeletal remains, primarily cranial bones, tooth fragments, and other bone pieces.
  • These remains have been collected from archaeological sites in India and Pakistan, including well-known sites from the Indus Valley Civilization like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro (now in Pakistan), as well as locations like Burzahom (J&K), Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh), Maski (Karnataka), Ropar (Punjab), and Lothal (Gujarat).
  • These remains were excavated between 1922 and 1958 and are currently in the custody of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Objective:
  • The study aims to reconstruct the origins of ancient Indian communities by extracting and analysing DNA from the remains.
  • It will also shed light on the living conditions, diets, disease prevalence, and migration patterns of ancient people, allowing for a clearer understanding of how populations moved and interacted over time.
  • This research is expected to help answer fundamental questions about the gene pool and environmental adaptation of ancient Indian civilizations.

Expected Outcomes & Modern Relevance

• Officials believe that this scientific research could provide conclusive evidence regarding the origins and migration patterns of ancient populations in South Asia.
• By comparing ancient DNA with modern DNA, researchers aim to uncover the complex migration history of the region, clarifying the role of early civilizations in shaping modern South Asian populations.
• Clearer Historical Narrative:
  • This study is expected to reveal how ancient Indian populations expanded and interacted, leading to a more accurate account of India's ancient history.
• Understanding Genetic Continuity:
  • Initial findings suggest continuity in the genetic makeup of populations over time, without significant external changes.
  • This challenges earlier theories of large-scale migrations influencing India's demographic history.
• Impact on Textbook Narratives:
  • These findings could have implications for school textbooks, such as those produced by NCERT, which have already undergone revisions to emphasize the continuity of Indian civilization over 5,000 years, casting doubts on the theory of Aryan migration.

The Aryan Migration Debate

• The project aims to address one of the most significant and controversial questions in Indian history: Did the Aryan migration happen?
• Aryan Invasion Theory:
  • Proposed by Western scholars in the 19th century, this theory posits that a group of Aryans, fair-skinned people from Central Asia, migrated to India around 2000-1500 BC, playing a major role in shaping the civilization of the Indian subcontinent.
• Indigenous Theory:
  • Many modern Indian archaeologists argue that the Aryans were indigenous to the region and that they lived along the Saraswati River.
  • When the river dried up, they migrated to other parts of India and settled in the Indus Valley.
• Recent excavations, such as those at the 4,000-year-old archaeological site in Sinauli (Uttar Pradesh), have revealed the existence of indigenous warrior burials, weapons, and chariots, which contradict the idea of an external Aryan migration.

Conclusion

• This pioneering study combining ancient and modern genomics is set to reshape our understanding of South Asia's population history.
• By studying DNA from ancient skeletal remains, the project will provide crucial insights into the origins, migration, and genetic evolution of the Indian subcontinent.
• These findings will likely offer new perspectives on historical debates, such as the Aryan migration theory, and help construct a more accurate narrative of India’s ancient past.
• The study is expected to be completed by December 2025 and holds significant promise for uncovering the genetic continuity of ancient civilizations in South Asia.

Key Terms for Prelims

• Genomics: The study of an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. In this study, both ancient DNA (from skeletal remains) and modern DNA (from current populations) are being analysed to understand historical connections.
• DNA Extraction: The process of isolating DNA from biological samples, which is complex in ancient remains due to the degradation of material over time.
• Population History: The study of how ancient populations migrated, settled, and evolved, often focusing on the genetic relationships between modern and ancient peoples.

Q1. What do you mean by Half-life?

When a radioactive atom decays, it becomes a different element. The amount of time that it takes one half of the atoms present to decay is called “half-life.” Every radioactive isotope has a specific half-life.

Q2. What is Carbon Dating?

Carbon dating is a method of determining the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 in a sample. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that's created when cosmic rays interact with atmospheric nitrogen. Living organisms absorb carbon-14 from the atmosphere, and when they die, the carbon-14 begins to decay into other atoms.

Source: Govt begins study to find roots of ancient Indian communities