A sweeping new genetic study has added a fascinating twist to the story of how humans first settled the Americas. By analysing nearly two hundred Indigenous genomes, researchers have found evidence of three separate migration waves into South America, including one that was completely unknown until now. The study also uncovered traces of a mysterious ancient population from Asia, whose genetic fingerprint still lingers in Indigenous American communities today. Beyond migration history, the research sheds light on how genes tied to fertility, metabolism and immunity helped early settlers adapt to some of the planet's toughest environments, from the Amazon rainforest to the high altitude Andes, offering the most detailed picture yet of Indigenous American genetic diversity.
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