Wed Jan 29 12:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Nicobarese Ancestry Traced to Southeast Asia: 5,000-Year-Old Migration Revealed
**Bengaluru, India – January 29, 2025** – A new genetic study has rewritten a chapter in the human migration story, pinpointing the origins of the Nicobarese people of India’s Nicobar Islands to Southeast Asia approximately 5,000 years ago. Researchers from the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and Banaras Hindu University analyzed genetic data from 1,559 individuals across South and Southeast Asia, revealing a close ancestral link between the Nicobarese and the Htin Mal community of Laos and Thailand.
The study, published in the European Journal of Human Genetics, utilized advanced genetic analysis techniques, including analysis of both biparental and uniparental genetic markers, to achieve a higher resolution of the Nicobarese genetic history than previous studies. This allowed researchers to refine previous estimates of the Nicobarese arrival on the islands, correcting earlier assumptions of a migration over 11,000 years ago. The analysis confirmed the retention of Austroasiatic language roots within the Nicobarese population, further supporting the Southeast Asian connection.
The findings highlight the unique genetic isolation of the Nicobarese, who have retained their genetic identity with minimal admixture with other populations. This isolation, researchers suggest, has also contributed to their unique immune response and relative protection from diseases like COVID-19, compared to mainland populations. The study’s co-lead, Kumarasamy Thangaraj, noted the fascinating contrast between the Nicobarese’s genetic similarities to Southeast Asian groups and their distinct lifestyle and societal structures. Further research is planned to explore the genetic adaptations of this isolated population and the influence of environmental factors on their survival and immunity.
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