A high-resolution paleogenomic study published in Nature Genetics has successfully sequenced the genome of a hunter-gatherer from the Malwa Plateau dating back to 16,000 years ago. The research team identified a specific set of genetic markers associated with metabolic efficiency and water retention, suggesting that these ancient populations underwent a rapid evolutionary adaptation to the extreme aridity pulse that characterized the Late Glacial Maximum in central India.
This study provides the first direct evidence of a 'ghost lineage' that contributed to the ancestral makeup of modern central Indian populations. By comparing these ancient sequences with contemporary data, researchers have mapped how these resilience genes persisted through the Holocene, offering new insights into how early human groups in the subcontinent survived significant environmental shifts before the advent of agriculture.