American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology CouncilAm J Hum BiolAdmixture and Genetic Connectivity: Autosomal Insights Into Indo-Aryan Speakers at the Eastern Edge of the Indian Subcontinent.e70245e7024510.1002/ajhb.70245Assam serves as a melting pot where various ethnicities converge, shaped by its strategic location bordering the six northeastern states and neighboring countries. This study examines the genomic ancestry of Indo-Aryan speakers in Assam, a region at the eastern edge of the Indian subcontinent known for its diverse linguistic and cultural influences. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) revealed that Assamese Indo-Aryans cluster closely with Bangladeshi Indo-Aryans, diverging from the typical South Asian genetic continuum. This group shows significant ancestral influences from East and Southeast Asia. Outgroup f3 statistics indicated that Assamese Indo-Aryans exhibit greater genetic drift in relation to other Indo-Aryan populations, particularly the Harijan and Kol groups from the Ganga plain, rather than with geographically closer Bengali or Nyishi populations. Haplotype-based fine-structure and identity by descent (IBD) analyses confirmed a close genetic affinity with Bangladeshi Indo-Aryans, along with notable connections to Harijan and Kol populations. The low levels of Runs of Homozygosity (RoH) suggest a high degree of genetic diversity, most likely due to a result of admixture and a large effective population size. Admixture events are estimated to have occurred 55 to 61 generations ago, indicating a composition of 76% Indian ancestry and 24% East/Southeast Asian ancestry. These findings, with enhanced resolution, suggest a reconsideration of the previous assumption that Northeast India served as a genetic barrier. Instead, they appear to support its role as a corridor facilitating bidirectional gene flow between South and East/Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the coexistence of diverse linguistic affiliations of ethnic groups in this region reflects in their ancestry patterns. These findings highlight the complex interplay of geography, language, and genetic exchange in the region.© 2026 Wiley Periodicals LLC.SinghVanyaV0000-0002-2832-7393Gyan Lab, Cytogenetics Unit, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.Basu MallickChandanaC0000-0001-9459-2710Centre for Genetic Disorders, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.ChatterjeeMadhumatiM0000-0002-0136-6149Department of Anthropology, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Government College, Kolkata, India.TamangRakeshR0000-0001-9873-3066Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.DesaiShaileshS0000-0002-1812-5106Gyan Lab, Cytogenetics Unit, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.SinghPrajjval PratapPP0000-0002-8081-5634Laboratory of Genomics and Profiling Applications, BRIC-Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India.MishraRahul KumarRK0000-0003-2608-7856Gyan Lab, Cytogenetics Unit, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Chhattisgarh, Raipur, India.PandeyRudra KumarRK0000-0002-0995-923XGyan Lab, Cytogenetics Unit, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.MishraRitushaR0000-0003-4533-0727Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Medicines, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.SinghAshishA0000-0002-6819-2905Dr. Lalji Singh Research Centre, Kalwari, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.SuravajhalaPrashanthP0000-0002-8535-278XDepartment of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.BandyopadhyayArup RatanAR0000-0003-3119-0022Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.ChaubeyGyaneshwerG0000-0003-2899-3852Gyan Lab, Cytogenetics Unit, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.eng6031BHU IoE incentive grant BHU2021-6389Indian Council of Medical Research2021-11289Indian Council of Medical ResearchDepartment of Zoology, BHUJournal ArticleUnited StatesAm J Hum Biol89150291042-0533IMHumansIndiaHaplotypesGene FlowPrincipal Component AnalysisGenetic VariationEthnicitygeneticsGenetics, PopulationAsian PeoplegeneticsIndo‐AryanNortheast IndiaTibeto‐Burmanadmixtureautosomesgeneflow20263520251062026310202632071120263207102026320213ppublish4185809810.1002/ajhb.70245References

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