Tracing the Road Down Under

Ancient DNA as a multidisciplinary experience

“…In particular, Ingman and Gyllensten (2003) presented a report on the mitochondrial genome variation and evolutionary history of Australian and New Guinea Aborigines. They showed that the genetic diversity of the Australian mitochondrial sequences is remarkably high and is similar to that found across Asia, in contrast to the pattern seen in previously described Y‐chromosome data, where a specific Australian haplotype was found at high frequency (Dayton, 2003). The predominance of an unique Y‐chromosome haplotype, contrasting with the high mitochondrial diversity would be, according to the Ingman and Gyllenstein hypothesis, the result of a founder effect, since the population expansion started from a few hundred individuals (Kayser et al, 2001).…”

“…Most of the mutations observed both in mtDNA coding and control regions in modern human populations have occurred on these pre‐existing haplogroups and they define the individual mtDNA types or haplotypes. The analysis of mtDNA in extant individuals allowed us to understand the phylogeny of Homo sapiens sapiens (Stringer and Andrews, 1988; Pusch et al, 2003) or to infer routes and times for human expansion out of Africa (Dayton, 2003).…”

Untitled

“…Nonetheless, a hypothesis can be formed based on known human and dog histories. Current evidence points to an early migration of humans from Africa through Indonesia and into Australia approximately 60,000 to 70,000 years ago [8,9]. Recent excavations have also revealed that there was a great expansion into Indonesia from China between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago that could have contributed to a population pre-existing on Bali [1].…”

“…At the time humans migrated to Indonesia from China, dogs were known to be domesticated and undoubtedly accompanied people as companions [17]. Mitochondrial DNA sequencing evidence suggests that the dingo was introduced into Australia about that time from the Indonesian archipelago [15,8,9]. Bali's documented history of repeated war and trade spanning the last 2,000 years [1,16,17] represents actions that are often associated with the introduction of new animals.…”