Leite Portela Martiniano, R, Marc, H, Almarri, M, Mattiangeli, V, Kuijpers, M, Chamel, B, Breslin, E, Littleton, J, Almahari, S, Bradley, D, Lombard, P and Durbin, R (2024) Ancient genomes illuminate Eastern Arabian population history and adaptation against malaria. Cell Genomics, 4 (3). ISSN 2666-979X

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Abstract

The harsh climate of Arabia has posed challenges in generating ancient DNA from the region, hindering the direct examination of ancient genomes for understanding the demographic processes that shaped Arabian populations. In this study, we report whole-genome sequence data obtained from four Tylos-period individuals from Bahrain. Their genetic ancestry can be modeled as a mixture of sources from ancient Anatolia, Levant, and Iran/Caucasus, with variation between individuals suggesting population heterogeneity in Bahrain before the onset of Islam. We identify the G6PD Mediterranean mutation associated with malaria resistance in three out of four ancient Bahraini samples and estimate that it rose in frequency in Eastern Arabia from 5 to 6 kya onward, around the time agriculture appeared in the region. Our study characterizes the genetic composition of ancient Arabians, shedding light on the population history of Bahrain and demonstrating the feasibility of studies of ancient DNA in the region.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Divisions:	Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Cell Press
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	18 Mar 2024 11:54
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2024 12:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100507
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/22646

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