New Genomic Study to Illuminate South Asia’s Population History

Context:

The Government of India has initiated a landmark scientific research program entitled “Reconstruction of the Population History of South Asia using Ancient and Modern Genomics.” This ambitious study integrates ancient and modern genomic techniques in exploring and elucidating the historical population dynamics of South Asia. The research, led by the Anthropological Survey of India, or AnSI, under the Ministry of Culture, resolves many of the long-standing debates and conflicting opinions on the origin and course of migration of ancient Indian populations. Done in active collaboration with the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences at Lucknow under the Department of Science & Technology, the prime investigation was basically into the DNA extracted from the ancient skeletal remains to understand the complex past of the region.

Relevance:

GS I: History

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Salient Features of the Study
2. Foreseen Outcomes & Contemporary Relevance
3. The Aryan Migration Debate
4. About Genome

Salient Features of the Study

• The project proposes studying 300 skeletal remains, mostly cranial bones, fragments of teeth, and other bones.
• These remains are collected from archaeological excavation sites in India and Pakistan, including famous sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro (now in Pakistan), and other locations like Burzahom (J&K), Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh), Maski (Karnataka), Ropar (Punjab), and Lothal (Gujarat). The remains, excavated between 1922 and 1958, are currently under the custody of the ASI.
• The study focuses on reconstructing the origins of ancient Indian communities by extracting and analyzing DNA from these remains.
• It will also provide insights into living conditions, diets, the prevalence of diseases, and migration patterns, helping understand how ancient people moved and interacted within specific time frames.
• The research aims to answer fundamental questions regarding the gene pool and environmental adaptation of ancient Indian civilizations.

Foreseen Outcomes & Contemporary Relevance

• According to officials, this research may help provide conclusive evidence of the origins and migrations of ancient populations in South Asia.
• By comparing ancient DNA with modern DNA, the researchers aim to uncover the complex migration history of the region, shedding light on early civilizations that played a role in shaping the present-day populations of South Asia.
  More Coherent Historical Narrative:
  • The research is expected to reveal how ancient populations of India expanded and interacted, offering a more accurate narrative of ancient Indian history.
    Genetic Continuity:
  • Preliminary results indicate genetic continuity of populations over time without significant external changes.
  • This challenges earlier theories about large-scale migrations that were believed to have shaped India’s demographic history.

Impact on Textbook Narratives

• The findings could significantly affect school textbooks, like those produced by NCERT. These books have already been revised 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 critical and debated questions in Indian history: Did the Aryan migration occur?
  Aryan Invasion Theory:
  • Proposed by Western scholars in the 19th century, this theory suggests that a group of Aryans, fair-skinned people from Central Asia, migrated to India around 2000-1500 BC, shaping the civilization of the Indian subcontinent.
    Indigenous Theory:
  • Many modern Indian archaeologists argue that the Aryans were native to the region, living 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 uncovered evidence of indigenous warrior burials, weapons, and chariots, contradicting the theory of an external Aryan migration.

About Genome:

• It refers to the complete set of genetic instructions or information that an organism possesses.
• It is made up of DNA, which carries the instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all living organisms.
• The study of genomics involves the analysis of genomes and has led to many breakthroughs in various fields, including medicine and biotechnology.

Genome Sequencing

• Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G), that make up an organism’s DNA.

Genome India Project

• India’s population consists of over 4,600 diverse population groups, many of which are endogamous.
• These groups have unique genetic variations and disease-causing mutations that cannot be compared to other populations.
• The Genome India Project aims to create a database of Indian genomes to learn about these unique genetic variants and use the information to create personalized drugs and therapies.
• The project was started in 2020 and is inspired by the successful decoding of the entire human genome in the Human Genome Project (HGP).
• The project seeks to better understand the genetic variations and disease-causing mutations specific to the Indian population, which is one of the most genetically diverse in the world.
• By sequencing and analyzing these genomes, researchers hope to gain insights into the underlying genetic causes of diseases and develop more effective personalized therapies.
• The project involves the collaboration of 20 institutions across India and is being led by the Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.
• Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, China, and the United States, also have similar programs to sequence their genomes.

-Source: The Hindu