New genetic research points to Austro-Asiatic connection of Nicobarese

Hyderabad: A new genetic research on Nicobarese revealed a significant ancestral connection with Austro-Asiatic populations across South and Southeast Asia.

Although the previous theories suggested that the linguistic ancestors of the Nicobarese settled in the Nicobar archipelago during the early Holocene, about 11,700 years ago, this genetic study co-led by Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) researcher, suggests that the Nicobar islanders settled there approximately 5000 years ago.

The study notably highlighted the common genetic affinity of the Htin Mal with Nicobarese. Htin Mal is a population in the mainland of Southeast Asia who speak an Austro-Asiatic language. The Mal are an ethnic group native to Laos and Thailand.

The Nicobar Islands are situated in the eastern Indian Ocean and south of the Andaman Islands. The archipelago consists of seven large islands, including Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar, and numerous smaller ones, characterised by flat topography, coral reefs, and sandy beaches. Nicobarese people are estimated to be approximately 25,000.

A group of researchers from nine institutions, co-led by Dr Kumarasamy Thangaraj of CCMB, Hyderabad, and Prof Gyaneshwer Chaubey of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, conducted a detailed genetic analysis using DNA markers that are inherited exclusively from mothers and fathers, respectively, and those from both parents.

This helped them to explore the ancestry and genetic affinities of the Nicobarese with South and Southeast Asian populations. Findings of this study have been recently published in the European Journal of Human Genetics.

“Previous theories suggested that the linguistic ancestors of the Nicobarese settled in the Nicobar archipelago during the early Holocene, about 11,700 years ago. However, our new genetic research on Nicobarese, involving 1,559 individuals from South and Southeast Asia, indicates a significant ancestral connection of Nicobarese shared with Austro-Asiatic populations across South and Southeast Asia. But our studies also suggest that the Nicobar islanders settled there approximately only 5000 years ago,” said Dr Thangaraj.

“Genomic regions shared across linguistic groups suggest an ancient distribution of Austro-Asiatic populations in Southeast Asia,” said Prof Gyaneshwer Chaubey, the lead author of the study. He further said that, “Our findings compellingly argue that the Nicobarese and the Htin Mal represent valuable genetic proxies for understanding ancient Austro-Asiatic heritage.”

CCMB director, Dr Vinay K Nandicoori, said, “This research opens up new avenues for understanding the rich tapestry of genetic diversity in Southeast Asia and highlights the importance of preserving the cultural and genetic heritage of Indigenous populations.”.