CCMB study finds women key in ancient migrations shaping Konkani ancestry

A genetic study by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Mangalore University has found that Konkani-speaking populations along India's west coast have predominantly South Asian maternal ancestry, alongside genetic signatures from Bronze Age migrations and ancient West Eurasian lineages. Published in the journal Heredity on 23 October, the analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes from 295 Konkani individuals challenges the assumption that prehistoric Bronze Age migrations into South Asia were exclusively male-mediated.

The Times of India reports that the study, led by K Thangaraj of CCMB and Professor MS Mustak of Mangalore University, found that Sarasvata groups show higher affinities to West Eurasian and Steppe-linked maternal lineages than non-Sarasvata groups. Telangana Today notes that a significant proportion of maternal diversity traces to source populations from the Near East during the Last Glacial Maximum, assimilated during post-glacial recovery and Holocene movements.

Both outlets report that occupational communities like the Kharvi and Kudubi show pronounced genetic drift from founder events and long-term endogamy, while Gauda Sarasvata Brahmins and Roman Catholics exhibited higher genetic diversity. The study also involved linguist Prof George van Driem of the University of Bern and Lomou Kumar of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences.