A recent DNA study has revealed new information about the first Americans which sheds light on an intersection of medicine, history, and anthropology.
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and St. Michaels College in Vermont has uncovered a novel mutation in the lice found on the remains of early Native American humans. This finding provides further evidence that these ancient individuals are genetically linked to both Siberian populations and populations from elsewhere across the globe.
The researchers sequenced the genome of lice recovered from skeletons taken from a burial cave in the northern part of the United States. These lice had been preserved for thousands of years.
Upon comparison to other lice samples, the researchers discovered a mutation in a gene associated with enzyme production. This enzyme is not found in any louse living today, and its presence on the ancient remains suggest that it was passed down through generations of the same species.
This discovery suggests that the first Americans both migrated within North America and interbred with populations from other parts of the globe. This finding is in keeping with archaeological evidence which shows that humans migrated along the Bering land bridge, which once connected Siberia and Alaska, sometime between 18 and 12 thousand years ago.
In addition to providing insight into the ancestry of North America’s first inhabitants, the discovery of this ancient louse mutation has implications for ongoing epidemiological research. By studying the genetic makeup of lice from different regions, scientists are hoping to develop a better understanding of how diseases spread in diverse populations.
The study’s authors have acknowledged that much more research is needed to better understand the evolutionary history of lice, particularly in ancient human populations. However, they hope that their findings will offer greater insight into how humans can continue to co-exist with these pesky little creatures in the present day.