Unraveling the Genetic Threads of History: mtDNA HVS-I Analysis Reveals the Ancient Past of the Aburra Valley.

• Published in: Genes
• Main Authors: Uricoechea Patiño, Daniel, Collins, Andrew, Romero García, Oscar Julián, Santos Vecino, Gustavo, Aristizábal Espinosa, Pablo, Bernal Villegas, Jaime Eduardo, Benavides Benitez, Escilda, Vergara Muñoz, Saray, Briceño Balcázar, Ignacio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2023
• Subjects: Colombia; aburrá valley; ancient DNA; antioquia; haplogroup; mtDNA HVS-I; pre-hispanic; Ice cap; Beringia; Siberia
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14112036; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38002979; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10670959/

This article presents a comprehensive genetic study focused on pre-Hispanic individuals who inhabited the Aburrá Valley in Antioquia, Colombia, between the tenth and seventeenth centuries AD. Employing a genetic approach, the study analyzed maternal lineages using DNA samples obtained from skeletal remains. The results illuminate a remarkable degree of biological diversity within these populations and provide insights into their genetic connections with other ancient and indigenous groups across the American continent. The findings strongly support the widely accepted hypothesis that the migration of the first American settlers occurred through Beringia, a land bridge connecting Siberia to North America during the last Ice Age. Subsequently, these early settlers journeyed southward, crossing the North American ice cap. Of particular note, the study unveils the presence of ancestral lineages from Asian populations, which played a pivotal role in populating the Americas. The implications of these results extend beyond delineating migratory routes and settlement patterns of ancient populations. They also enrich our understanding of the genetic diversity inherent in indigenous populations of the region. By revealing the genetic heritage of pre-Hispanic individuals from the Aburrá Valley, this study offers valuable insights into the history of human migration and settlement in the Americas. Furthermore, it enhances our comprehension of the intricate genetic tapestry that characterizes indigenous communities in the area.