Caste and Genes Study By National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG)

Key Findings of the NIBMG Study

The study conducted by NIBMG has uncovered several fascinating findings:

1. Endogamy, or the practice of marrying within a specific social or ethnic group, became prevalent in India approximately 1,600 years ago, or 70 generations back, according to NIBMG researchers.
2. The timeline suggests that the shift towards endogamy took place during the reign of the Gupta Dynasty, a period when the empire dominated a significant part of the Indian subcontinent, with Pataliputra as the capital.
3. The study also reveals that male members of upper-caste communities have had children with women from other communities, whereas the reverse has rarely occurred.

The research further highlights the complex ancestral lineages of India, suggesting that the country's ancestry is not unipolar but rather divided into four distinct groups.

1. Ancestral North Indians (ANI)
2. Ancestral South Indians (ASI)
3. Austro-Asiatic
4. Tibeto-Burman (primarily in North-East India)

How did NIBMG Conduct the Research?

The research team at NIBMG collected samples from a diverse array of individuals, including different castes, linguistic groups, and geographical locations. They gathered samples from upper-caste individuals in Gujarat, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. They also included samples from Central and East Indian tribes like Ho, Santhal, and Birhor, Dravidian communities like Pallan and Irula, and tribes such as Jarawa and Onge from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Comparing the NIBMG Study with Earlier Research on Ancestral Lineage of Mainland India

Earlier studies conducted by Indian and US scientists indicated that the ancestral lineage of Mainland India was divided into two groups: Ancestral North Indians (ANI) and Ancestral South Indians (ASI). However, the NIBMG study challenges this notion by revealing two additional groups: Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman.

This comprehensive information will prove beneficial for candidates preparing for UPSC 2021.

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