A breakthrough paleogenomic study published in Nature Genetics has revealed the earliest known genetic evidence of high-altitude adaptation in Central Asia. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology sequenced the genomes of 42 individuals from the Pamir Plateau dating back to 2000 BCE. The study identified a specific variant of the EPAS1 gene, which is crucial for regulating hemoglobin production in low-oxygen environments.
The findings suggest that the populations inhabiting the high-altitude corridors of the Pamir Mountains developed these specialized genetic traits much earlier than previously hypothesized. This genetic adaptation likely facilitated the establishment of permanent settlements and trade hubs along the proto-Silk Road, bridging the gap between the civilizations of the Steppe and the Indus Valley. The research highlights the rapid evolutionary pace of early human populations facing extreme environmental pressures.