In a landmark paper appearing in Science Advances, an international team of paleogenomicists has sequenced the oldest known human genome from the Australian continent, specifically from the West Coast of Tasmania. The analysis of these 13,000-year-old remains has revealed a distinct Pleistocene lineage that developed unique evolutionary adaptations to the harsh, sub-Antarctic conditions following the flooding of the Bass Strait. Most notably, the study identifies a specific genetic mutation on the OAS1 gene cluster, providing the first known evidence of natural selection for resistance against endemic arboviral pathogens during the final stages of the Ice Age.
The research suggests that these early inhabitants maintained a high degree of genetic isolation for millennia, allowing for the fixation of traits linked to specialized metabolic heat production and immune responses to cold-climate vectors. These findings significantly advance our understanding of anthropological research regarding the resilience of Sahul’s first peoples and the rapid pace of genetic adaptation following geographical isolation caused by rising sea levels at the end of the Pleistocene.