An analysis of ancient DNA is transforming the understanding of the genetic ancestry of Japan's modern-day population, identifying a crucial contribution from people who arrived about 1,700 years ago and helped revolutionize Japanese culture.
Research published on Friday showed that the people of Japan bear genetic signatures from three ancient populations rather than just two as previously thought — a more complex ancestry for the archipelago nation of roughly 125 million.
The researchers analyzed genetic information from 17 ancient Japanese people — DNA extracted from the bones of 12 specifically for this study and five done previously — and compared it to genomic data for modern Japanese people.