Jomon genomics reveal cold adaptation in Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers of eastern Eurasia

Y Watanabe; Y Wakiyama; D Waku; Guido Marcelo Valverde Garnica; A Tanino; M Hayashi; I Naka; Y Nakamura; T Suzuki; K Koganebuchi; T Gakuhari; T Katsumura; M Ogawa; A Toyoda; P Nuchnoi; S Chaorattanakawee; H Hananantachai; J Patarapotikul; S Mizushima; T Nagaoka; K Hirata; M Yoneda; M Motoi; H Toyoshima; T Maeda; T Nishimura; T Masuyama; Y Yamada; R Takahashi; M Izuho; J Ohashi; Consortium NCBN Controls WGS; H Oota

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aea7469

Jomon genomics reveal cold adaptation in Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers of eastern Eurasia

Y Watanabe, Y Wakiyama, D Waku, Guido Marcelo Valverde Garnica, A Tanino, M Hayashi, I Naka, Y Nakamura, T Suzuki, K Koganebuchi, …

Science Advances, Vol.12(33)

12/08/2026

: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea7469

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/54151

How did Homo sapiens thrive in extreme environments during their dispersal across Eurasia? Unraveling adaptations that enabled human survival during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) remains critical. Here, we analyze 42 genomes from Holocene hunter-gatherers (Jomon) in the Japanese archipelago, revealing their deep ancestry from an isolated Upper Paleolithic (UP) East Eurasian lineage. We detect gene flow from northern UP Siberians into Jomon, reconciling long-standing debates between bioanthropology and archaeology regarding East Asian peopling. We find no Jomon-specific Denisovan ancestry, suggesting shared introgression before their LGM divergence from mainlanders. Furthermore, we find evidence consistent with cold adaptation in Jomon UP ancestry, highlighting diverse physiological pathways. Our study provides one of the first paleogenomic frameworks for investigating ancient adaptations in UP East Eurasians, revealing an evolutionary legacy from a colder past in present-day humans.

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: Jomon genomics reveal cold adaptation in Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers of eastern Eurasia
: Y Watanabe - The University of Tokyo
Y Wakiyama - The University of Tokyo
D Waku - Tokyo University of Agriculture
Guido Marcelo Valverde Garnica - Eurac Research
A Tanino - Kitasato University
M Hayashi - Kitasato University
I Naka - The University of Tokyo
Y Nakamura - The University of Tokyo
T Suzuki - Kitasato University
K Koganebuchi - The University of Tokyo
T Gakuhari - Kanazawa University
T Katsumura - Kitasato University
M Ogawa - Kitasato University
A Toyoda - National Institute of Genetics
P Nuchnoi - Mahidol University
S Chaorattanakawee - Mahidol University
H Hananantachai - Mahidol University
J Patarapotikul - Mahidol University
S Mizushima - St. Marianna University School of Medicine
T Nagaoka - Aomori Public University
K Hirata
M Yoneda - The University of Tokyo
M Motoi - Kyushu University
H Toyoshima - Ono Clinic
T Maeda - Kyushu University
T Nishimura - Kyushu University
T Masuyama - Nobuhara Hospital
Y Yamada - Tokyo Metropolitan University
R Takahashi - Waseda University
M Izuho - Tokyo Metropolitan University
J Ohashi - The University of Tokyo
Consortium NCBN Controls WGS
H Oota - The University of Tokyo
: Science Advances, Vol.12(33)
: 2375-2548
: 12
: American Association for the Advancement of Science
: (EURAC)31813051
991007398989101241
: Creative commonsAttribution license 4.0
: Institute for Mummy Studies
: English
: Journal article
: none
: Scientific
: Scientific
: Watanabe Y, Wakiyama Y, Waku D, Valverde G, Tanino A, Hayashi M, Naka I, Nakamura Y, Suzuki T, Koganebuchi K, Gakuhari T, Katsumura T, Ogawa M, Toyoda A, Nuchnoi P, Chaorattanakawee S, Hananantachai H, Patarapotikul J, Mizushima S, Nagaoka T, Hirata K, Yoneda M, Motoi M, Toyoshima H, Maeda T, Nishimura T, Masuyama T, Yamada Y, Takahashi R, Izuho M, Ohashi J, NCBN Controls WGS Consortium, Oota H