Ancient Genomes from Yunnan and the Mosaic of East Asian Prehistory

The mountains of Yunnan hold more than spectacular biodiversity. Buried in its soils are threads of human history stretching back over 7,000 years—some of which may help explain the genetic links between the Tibetan Plateau, Southeast Asia, and the origins of Austroasiatic languages. A recent study¹ led by Fu Qiaomei at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology has mapped 127 ancient human genomes from this region, adding new depth to our understanding of East Asian prehistory.

Population migration, replacement, and the preservation of deeply diverged ancestry in southern East Asia. Credit: Prof. Fu Qiaomei's group