DNA of rats to understand human migrations

2004/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika

Researchers have interpreted human migrations by analyzing the DNA of Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans).

According to experts, the first inhabitants of Polynesia arrived in these islands 3,000 years ago and several theories about their origin and extension have been published. They say that the rat came along with humans and have now got new data investigating this animal.

It is observed that the DNA of the mitochondria of the rats analyzed is distributed in three groups. The first appears in the rats of the Southeast Asian islands. The second was found in Southeast Asia and Nearby Oceania (New Guinea, Solomon Islands). The third group, meanwhile, has only been found in distant rats from Oceania (Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa).

From these results it follows that the first inhabitants of Polynesia had two origins. They arrived in Oceania Proxima from Southeast Asia, but did not open to Remote Oceania. According to the researchers, their population could come from mainland Asia.