Study traces complex maternal ancestry of Konkani-speaking population : CCMB
Hyderabad, Oct 23 (TNT) : A study by researchers from CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, and Mangalore University has revealed a complex maternal genetic history of the Konkani-speaking population along India’s western coast, with evidence of both deep-rooted South Asian and West Eurasian ancestry.
The study, led by Dr K Thangaraj of CCMB and Prof M S Mustak of Mangalore University, analysed maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 295 Konkani individuals to trace their maternal origins, CCMB said in a release here on Friday.
The findings have been published in the journal Heredity.
The researchers found that the overall maternal ancestry of the Konkani population was predominantly local. However, Sarasvata groups showed relatively stronger affinities with West Eurasian and Steppe-associated maternal lineages than non-Sarasvata groups.
The findings, when considered alongside ancient genetic lineages, suggest that Bronze Age migrations into South Asia involved female as well as male contributions, rather than being exclusively male-mediated, the study said.
The researchers also compared the mitochondrial DNA of the Konkani population with that of more than 5,000 individuals from Eurasia, confirming the presence of both ancient South Asian and West Eurasian maternal lineages.
A significant proportion of maternal diversity was traced to lineages associated with an ancient source population, likely in the Near East around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, approximately 26,500 to 19,000 years ago. These lineages were subsequently assimilated during population movements in the post-glacial recovery period and the Holocene, Prof Mustak said.
The study also identified the effects of historical founder events and long-term endogamy-driven genetic drift among occupational communities such as the Kharvi and Kudubi. Gauda Sarasvata Brahmins and Roman Catholics exhibited higher genetic diversity than other Konkani groups.
Dr Jaison Sequeira, the first author of the study, said the analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes revealed the rich ancestry that both unites and distinguishes Konkani communities, shaped by geography, climate and culture over thousands of years.
The research provides important insights into the population history of South Asia and helps explain the complex demographic processes that shaped the ethnolinguistic communities of India’s western coast, said Dr Vinay Kumar Nandicoori, Director of CSIR-CCMB.
Other authors of the study include Prof George van Driem, a linguist from the University of Bern, and Dr Lomous Kumar of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow.
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