Tribals of Andaman and Nicobar-Foremost Modern Humans
Posted on September 29, 2008 in Current Affairs by Danteshwari
The tribals of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the foremost modern humans, who migrated from Africa around 65,000-70,000 years ago.
This was highlighted in a study, which involved over 10,000 individuals, who belonged to ethnic groups numbering more than 200.
The scientists made a study of the population history and that of the molecular mechanism of diseases of the Indian population. The country, of course, consists of much human diversity, comprising of 4,635 anthropologically and culturally well-defined populations having less or no “gene flow” among them.
The study also confirmed the Andamans to be unique. The Director of CCMB, Dr. Lalji Singh at the 13th Human Genome Meeting being held here in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh said that the earlier notion about tribals was that they migrated through the Northern route, crossing the Red Sea, Middle East, South-East Asia Europe and thus reached India. Now, the present studies show that the first humans moved out of Africa via India, passing through the coastal route to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The existence of two tribes in Kerala and West Bengal as ancient as those who migrated also confirms the Southern sea route.
Dr.Singh said the Indian population was very unique in its susceptibility to various diseases as well as genetic origin. He felt that the response to medicine applicable to Westerners need not be accepted blindly for Indians.
Source Hindu, September 29th 2008
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