Ancient DNA From Papua New Guinea Reveals Centuries of Genetic Isolation

Ancient DNA from Papua New Guinea reveals centuries of genetic isolation

A new analysis of the ancient DNA of 42 people from Papua New Guinea reveals that some cultures were remarkably isolated for centuries.

Ancient DNA tells a 2,500-year-old story of Papua New Guinean people

Tribal warrior in Papua New Guinea. Credit: Tuul & Bruno Morandi / The Image Bank Unreleased / Getty Images Plus. Archaeologists have studied the genomes of 42 individuals spanning 2,500 years from Papua New Guinea and surrounding islands. Despite their critical role in the human history of the Pacific region, this group’s genetic diversity is understudied, the researchers say. Their findings are in a paper published in the journal Nature Ecolog…