Confirmed Polynesia settlements late Holocene colonization of the Pacific

A study since 2010 published in the European journal of Human Genetics confirmed that expansion of Polynesian people is linked to insular Southeast Asia through Sundaland Indonesia. More than a decade of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies have given the ‘Polynesian motif' renowned status as a marker for tracing to the late-Holocene expansion of Austronesian speaking populations. 

The dates in this study estimate Polynesian Austronesian expansion in at least 10,000 years. The research was done by Harilanto Razafindrazaka,1,6 François-X Ricaut,1,6,* Murray P Cox,2 Maru Mormina,3 Jean-Michel Dugoujon,1 Louis P Randriamarolaza,4 Evelyne Guitard,1 Laure Tonasso,1 Bertrand Ludes,1,5 and Eric Crubézy1. In their abstract they state:

"In this study, we assess mtDNA variation in 266 individuals from three Malagasy ethnic groups: the Mikea, Vezo, and Merina. Complete mtDNA genome sequencing reveals a new variant of the Polynesian motif in Madagascar; two coding region mutations define a Malagasy-specific sub-branch. This newly defined ‘Malagasy motif' occurs at high frequency in all three ethnic groups (13–50%), and its phylogenetic position, geographic distribution, and estimated age all support a recent origin, but without conclusively identifying a specific source region. Nevertheless, the haplotype's limited diversity, similar to those of other mtDNA haplogroups found in our Malagasy groups, best supports a small number of initial settlers arriving to Madagascar through the same migratory process. Finally, the discovery of this lineage provides a set of new polymorphic positions to help localize the Austronesian ancestors of the Malagasy, as well as uncover the origin and evolution of the Polynesian motif itself."

Reference
European Jornal of Human Genetics "Complete mitochondrial DNA sequences provide new insights into the Polynesian motif and the peopling of Madagascar", 2010

Posted in: Mana Science