Papua New Guineans carry a genetic story shaped by ancient migrations, Denisovan mixing, and extreme isolation. While they look distinct, AI models show their ancestry is closely tied to other Asian populations. Papua New Guineans are living proof of how isolation, ancient mixing, and survival in remote islands can preserve a unique piece of our shared human story.
A team of European researchers has shed new light on the genetic origins of Papua New Guineans. The team uses advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to demonstrate that Papua New Guineans are closely related to other Asian populations. They share a common ancestry from the same ‘Out of Africa’ event that also gave rise to other non-African groups.
Papua New Guineans look strikingly different from other Asian groups and share some features with Sub-Saharan African populations, which fueled theories that they might have descended separately from other non-African populations.
According to lead author Dr. Mayukh Mondal, the unique physical features of Papua New Guineans probably come from natural selection:
“Perhaps adaptations to tropical climates that make them look more like Sub-Saharan African groups, even though their genetics clearly link them to other Asian populations. More studies are needed to uncover how evolution shaped this remarkable population.”
