Dataset Information

Population genomics of Mesolithic Scandinavia: Investigating early postglacial migration routes and high-latitude adaptation.

ABSTRACT: Scandinavia was one of the last geographic areas in Europe to become habitable for humans after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). However, the routes and genetic composition of these postglacial migrants remain unclear. We sequenced the genomes, up to 57× coverage, of seven hunter-gatherers excavated across Scandinavia and dated from 9,500-6,000 years before present (BP). Surprisingly, among the Scandinavian Mesolithic individuals, the genetic data display an east-west genetic gradient that opposes the pattern seen in other parts of Mesolithic Europe. Our results suggest two different early postglacial migrations into Scandinavia: initially from the south, and later, from the northeast. The latter followed the ice-free Norwegian north Atlantic coast, along which novel and advanced pressure-blade stone-tool techniques may have spread. These two groups met and mixed in Scandinavia, creating a genetically diverse population, which shows patterns of genetic adaptation to high latitude environments. These potential adaptations include high frequencies of low pigmentation variants and a gene region associated with physical performance, which shows strong continuity into modern-day northern Europeans.

SUBMITTER: Gunther T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5760011 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Population genomics of Mesolithic Scandinavia: Investigating early postglacial migration routes and high-latitude adaptation.

Günther Torsten T Malmström Helena H Svensson Emma M EM Omrak Ayça A Sánchez-Quinto Federico F Kılınç Gülşah M GM Krzewińska Maja M Eriksson Gunilla G Fraser Magdalena M Edlund Hanna H Munters Arielle R AR Coutinho Alexandra A Simões Luciana G LG Vicente Mário M Sjölander Anders A Jansen Sellevold Berit B Jørgensen Roger R Claes Peter P Shriver Mark D MD Valdiosera Cristina C Netea Mihai G MG Apel Jan J Lidén Kerstin K Skar Birgitte B Storå Jan J Götherström Anders A Jakobsson Mattias M

PLoS biology 20180109 1

Scandinavia was one of the last geographic areas in Europe to become habitable for humans after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). However, the routes and genetic composition of these postglacial migrants remain unclear. We sequenced the genomes, up to 57× coverage, of seven hunter-gatherers excavated across Scandinavia and dated from 9,500-6,000 years before present (BP). Surprisingly, among the Scandinavian Mesolithic individuals, the genetic data display an east-west genetic gradient that oppose ...[more]

PMID: 29315301

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Dataset Information

Population genomics of Mesolithic Scandinavia: Investigating early postglacial migration routes and high-latitude adaptation.

Publications

Population genomics of Mesolithic Scandinavia: Investigating early postglacial migration routes and high-latitude adaptation.

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