Describing the genetic diversity of human populations is essential for a better understanding of diseases and their geographical distribution. However, the vast majority of genetic studies are focused on populations of European origin, even though these account for just 16% of the world's population.
Researchers at the Institut Pasteur, Collège de France and CNRS have turned their attention to little-studied populations in the South Pacific, which are heavily affected by vector-borne infectious diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya, on the one hand, and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, on the other.
By sequencing the genomes of 320 individuals, the scientists were able to reconstruct how human populations have adapted to the Pacific islands, and the consequences for their current state of health. They have also uncovered previously unsuspected aspects of the region's settlement history. This work will be published in the journal Nature on April 14, 2021.
