A new analysis of the rare mitochondrial DNA haplogroup C4c in Native American populations shows that it has a parallel genetic history with the X2a haplogroup thought by some to indicate a connection between early Paleoindians in eastern North America and the Upper Paleolithic Solutrean culture in France and Spain.According to Baharak Hooshiar Kashani, of the Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia at the Universita di Pavia in Italy, and his several co-authors, C4c has clear roots in Asia and is found in Great Lakes and Great Plains Native American populations. These are the same areas in which the X2a haplogroup has been identified suggesting that “these two lineages possibly arrived together from Beringia with the same Paleo-Indian group(s) that entered North America from Beringia through the ice-free corridor between the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets” at around 18-15,000 years ago.
The researchers further conclude that this finding “definitively dismisses the controversial hypothesis of an Atlantic glacial entry route into North America.”
The paper was published in the latest volume of the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Vol. 147, pages 35-39.
The researchers further conclude that this finding “definitively dismisses the controversial hypothesis of an Atlantic glacial entry route into North America.”
The paper was published in the latest volume of the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Vol. 147, pages 35-39.
Brad Lepper
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11 comments:
The authors make an assumption regarding the migration route, via the ice-free corridor. The first arrivals would spread across the continent, irrespective of the route of passage, maritime or continental. This evidence can as easily support a first migration assumption as an inland one.
If the Ice-Free Corridor did not open until 13,000 years ago, and people were in eastern North America at least 17,000 years ago, how did they get there? Clearly not via the Beringia land bridge. The DNA analysis does not seem to add anything new to this debate. I'm still betting on the Solutreans.
Very difficult to prove the negative since it would require large samples and even then the maternal mdna could have died out. Much easier to prove the positive since all you need is to find a few samples of something that shouldn't be there. The problem of course is the that such evidence is either explained away or ignored since it goes against the credo.
A map of global X mt DNA distribution may be found here:
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2007-03/1174412643.Ge.1.jpg
It is reproduced from Cambridge's McDonald Institute's works.
A discussion of the distribution of X mt DNA variants in ancient
remains nnd among modern Native Americaan populations is well beyond the scope of a blog comment.
Until such time as maritime exploration of the east coast of the North American Continent is carried out, remains, artifacts of ancient peoples, when found will definitely show both an east coast migration, as well as a maritime migration of the west coast. and "Beringia", as such, will be regarded as a recent migration possibly of the Clovis population.
I find the migration theory very interesting, and from a common sense assumption, I feel that the only migration these groups of people made were by land. The land I am thinking was before the continents divided. The rock specimens compared from the North American Eastern coasts to the European Northwestern coasts are identical.
"Possibly" does not equal "Definitely".
Poorly constructed and Irresponsible article.
Perhaps a poor choice of words in the headline - the DNA evidence does not disprove the Atlantic migration theory, but it does remove a key argument that the mt DNA in question could only come from a group that originated in Europe.
I've written up some (hopefully balanced) thoughts on this paper here: Overselling the story? “Parallel genetic histories” of mtDNA C4c and X2 as ostensible refutation of the Solutrean hypothesis.
With the continuing flow of pre-Clovis finds, other options for at least the "timing" of the arrival of humans the the New World must be considered. If the most recent "Beringia bridge" is eliminated by the older artifacts, you just have to move back to the one previous. If I remember correctly, there was a land bridge around 30kya as well. Also, the maritime route must be continually assessed.
Really interesting information! Love these themes!
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