Sequeira, J. J., Kumar, L., van Driem, G., Thangaraj, K., & Mustak, M. S. (2026). Complex maternal genetic landscape in the Koṅkaṇī population of India. Heredity, 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-026-00896-9
A new genetic study sheds light on the maternal ancestry and historical demographic dynamics of the Konkani population along the southwest coast of India. The research was conducted in collaboration between Prof. M. S. Mustak (Mangalore University) and Padmashri Dr. K. Thangaraj (CCMB, Hyderabad).
Findings reveal that the maternal ancestry of Konkani speakers is largely autochthonous, though the Sārasvata subgroup exhibits a slightly higher proportion of West Eurasian ancestry compared to non-Sārasvata subgroup.
Dr. Jaison Sequeira (currently the Human Past SCAS Junior Fellow) is the lead author of this study. Co-authors include Dr. George van Driem (University of Bern), and Dr. Lomous Kumar (BSIP, Lucknow).
Related content
The Week, an Indian newspaper, has published a news article on the findings
A simplified version of the paper can be read on the PopGen Blogspot
