Genomics Traces Farming History and Immigration

A new study published in the journal Nature has found that Neolithic farmers from Iberia and Levant migrated to northwest Africa around 7,000 years ago. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, sequenced the genomes of nine individuals excavated from four archaeological sites in Morocco. The results showed that the genomes of these individuals were closely related to those of Neolithic farmers from Iberia and the Levant, but not to those of hunter-gatherers from northwest Africa.

Key terms:

• Epipaleolithic:?This is a period of time from about 10,000 to 7,000 years ago when humans began to adopt some farming practices, but still hunted and gathered for most of their food.
• Neolithic:?This is a period of time from about 7,000 to 5,000 years ago when humans began to farm more intensively and live in larger settlements.
• Maghreb:?This is a region in North Africa that includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania.

Neolithic Transition in Northwest Africa

• 10,000-7,000 years ago:?Epipalaeolithic hunter-gatherers live in northwest Africa.
• 7,000 years ago:?Neolithic farmers from Iberia and Levant migrate to northwest Africa.
• 6,000-5,000 years ago:?Neolithic farmers and local hunter-gatherers intermix, creating a new population with a mix of genetic ancestry.
• 5,000 years ago onwards:?The Neolithic population of northwest Africa adopts agriculture, animal husbandry, and pottery. These new technologies have a profound impact on the local environment and way of life.

The researchers believe that the migration of Neolithic farmers to northwest Africa was a major event that had a significant impact on the region's culture and environment. The farmers brought with them new technologies, such as agriculture and pottery, and new crops, such as wheat and barley. These changes led to a more sedentary lifestyle for the people of northwest Africa, and also to an increase in population.

How Genomics help in establishing connection between foraging and farming?

The study of genomics is a powerful tool that can help us to understand the history of human populations. By studying the genes of people from different parts of the world, we can learn about how people have migrated, intermarried, and adopted new technologies over time. Genomics helps establish a connection between foraging and farming by tracing 8,000 years of population continuity and isolation from the Upper Paleolithic, via the Epipaleolithic, to some Maghrebi Neolithic farming groups.

How was it done?

The authors of this study collected special information called genomic sequence data from nine very old individuals who lived in a place called Morocco, which is in Africa. They used this data to learn about the history of these individuals, which goes back more than 1,000 years. Some of the people lived a long time ago in a time called the Late Epipaleolithic, and others lived during the Early Neolithic and Middle Neolithic times. The authors studied two places called KTG and IAM and compared the new data they found with data from before. They used genome sequencing to read the DNA of these individuals. The DNA was very old, so it was a bit damaged, but they could still learn a lot from it. They also compared the DNA of these ancient people with DNA from other people who lived in different parts of Africa and Europe.

Conclusions

The genomics showed that the people who brought farming to North Africa were from Europe. It also showed that the people who already lived in North Africa mixed with the new people, and this is how the population of North Africa changed. This study is important because it helps us to understand how our world has changed over time. It shows us how people have moved around and mixed with each other, and how this has led to the diversity of cultures that we see today.