A multidisciplinary overview on the Tupi-speaking people expansion.

The cultural and biological diversity of South American indigenous groups represent extremes of human variability, exhibiting one of the highest linguistic diversities alongside a remarkably low within-population genetic variation and an extremely high inter-population genetic differentiation. On top of that, this region has seen some of the most dramatic demographic events in human history unleashed by the European colonization of the Americas. As a result of this process, the distribution of indigenous populations has been radically changed.

Indigenous people from Amazon show genetic signatures of pathogen-driven selection.

Ecological conditions in the Amazon rainforests are historically favorable for the transmission of numerous tropical diseases, especially vector-borne diseases. The high diversity of pathogens likely contributes to the strong selective pressures for human survival and reproduction in this region. However, the genetic basis of human adaptation to this complex ecosystem remains unclear.

A genomic perspective on South American human history.

It has generally been accepted that the current indigenous peoples of the Americas are derived from ancestors from northeastern Asia. The latter were believed to have spread into the American continent by the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. In this sense, a joint and in-depth study of the earliest settlement of East Asia and the Americas is required to elucidate these events accurately.

Population Histories and Genomic Diversity of South American Natives.

South America is home to one of the most culturally diverse present-day native populations. However, the dispersion pattern, genetic substructure, and demographic complexity within South America are still poorly understood. Based on genome-wide data of 58 native populations, we provide a comprehensive scenario of South American indigenous groups considering the genomic, environmental, and linguistic data.

Deep genetic affinity between coastal Pacific and Amazonian natives evidenced by Australasian ancestry.

Different models have been proposed to elucidate the origins of the founding populations of America, along with the number of migratory waves and routes used by these first explorers. Settlements, both along the Pacific coast and on land, have been evidenced in genetic and archeological studies. However, the number of migratory waves and the origin of immigrants are still controversial topics.