Paleogenomic analysis of 6,000-year-old remains from the Lomas culture of coastal Peru has revealed the earliest known genetic adaptation to high-alkaline environments. The study, published in PNAS, identifies selection in the GJB2 gene, which researchers believe offered protection against the chronic respiratory inflammation caused by the fine, alkaline dust characteristic of the Peruvian fog oases.
This discovery provides a unique window into how ancient South American populations physiologically adapted to the hyper-arid but resource-rich Lomas ecosystems. The findings suggest a long-term evolutionary continuity in the region, with specialized genetic traits allowing for successful sedentary life in environments that would otherwise pose significant health risks to unadapted populations.