Early modern human dispersal from Africa: genomic evidence for multiple waves of migration

• DOI: 10.1186/s13323-015-0030-2
• Publication Date: 2015-11-06T12:02:46Z
• Authors: Francesca Tassi; Silvia Ghirotto; Massimo Mezzavilla; Sibelle Torres Vi...; Lisa De Santi; Guido Barbujani
• Keywords: Out of africa; Human migration

Anthropological and genetic data agree in indicating the African continent as main place of origin for anatomically modern humans. However, it is unclear whether early humans left Africa through a single, major process, dispersing simultaneously over Asia Europe, or two waves, first Arab Peninsula into southern Oceania, later northern route crossing Levant. Here, we show that accurate genomic estimates divergence times between European populations are more recent than those Australo-Melanesia incompatible with effects single dispersal. This difference cannot possibly be accounted by either hybridization archaic human forms back migration from Europe Africa. Furthermore, several found evidence relatively admixture events, which could have obscured signatures earliest processes. We conclude hypothesis dispersal appears hardly compatible observed historical geographical patterns genome diversity Australo-Melanesian seem still to retain signature ancient