The peopling of the last Green Sahara revealed by high-coverage resequencing of trans-Saharan patrilineages

Abstract Background Little is known about the peopling of the Sahara during the Holocene climatic optimum, when the desert was replaced by a fertile environment. Results In order to investigate the role of the last Green Sahara in the peopling of Africa, we deep-sequence the whole non-repetitive portion of the Y chromosome in 104 males selected as representative of haplogroups which are currently found to the north and to the south of the Sahara. We identify 5,966 mutations, from which we extract 142 informative markers then genotyped in about 8,000 subjects from 145 African, Eurasian and African American populations. We find that the coalescence age of the trans-Saharan haplogroups dates back to the last Green Sahara, while most northern African or sub-Saharan clades expanded locally in the subsequent arid phase. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the Green Sahara promoted human movements and demographic expansions, possibly linked to the adoption of pastoralism. Comparing our results with previously reported genome-wide data, we also find evidence for a sex-biased sub-Saharan contribution to northern Africans, suggesting that historical events such as the trans-Saharan slave trade mainly contributed to the mtDNA and autosomal gene pool, whereas the northern African paternal gene pool was mainly shaped by more ancient events

Kekayaan hutan Asia: makanan, rempah-rempah, kerajinan tangan, dan resin

This book contains 20 case studies that explain how a selection of forest resources featuring forest plans, animals and fungi are harvested, processed and traded. The botanical cases are presented according to the main part of the plant being used - the fruit, bark or resin. Sometimes the plants have multiple uses, or different cultures may use the same part of a particular plant in different ways. Animals and animal products that require forest habitat are also critical for rural livelihoods, and are represented in this volume by edible bird's nests and insect larvae. In each case, the book describes the main characteristics of the forest product, its historical usage, harvesting and management, and how it is processed and traded. In closing, each author comments briefly on trends and current issues regarding the resource. The final chapter reviews common themes and lessons that can be drawn from these cases

Additional file 3: of The peopling of the last Green Sahara revealed by high-coverage resequencing of trans-Saharan patrilineages

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