Genomic insights into millennia of genetic continuity and trans-regional admixture in the middle-lower Yellow River basin.

Genetic continuity in Shandong persisted for over 3,000 years, with approximately 15% West Eurasian-related ancestry detected in Tang-Song-period individuals.

• Why it matters: Understanding the population history of the Yellow River basin is essential for revealing the development of early Chinese civilizations and regional interactions over millennia.
• What they did: The study analyzed genome-wide data from 61 ancient individuals dating from approximately 4,500 to 200 BP, focusing on genetic relationships and ancestry shifts in Henan and Shandong.
• The result: Findings show that Neolithic populations were genetically homogeneous and related to millet-farming groups, with a shift toward Yellow River-related ancestry around 3,000 BP, and limited West Eurasian admixture during later periods, indicating long-term regional continuity and restricted cross-regional gene flow.