縄文人ゲノムから見えてきた氷期を生きた東ユーラシア狩猟採集民の寒冷適応 ―古代DNAから探る後期旧石器時代の進化的遺産―

2026-08-18 東京大学

旧石器時代日本列島人の集団史と寒冷環境適応

＜関連情報＞

• https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/press/11212/
• https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aea7469

縄文人のゲノム解析により、東ユーラシアの後期旧石器時代の狩猟採集民における寒冷適応が明らかになった Jomon genomics reveal cold adaptation in Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers of eastern Eurasia

Yusuke Watanabe, Yoshiki Wakiyama, Daisuke Waku, Guido Valverde, […] , and Hiroki Oota
Science Advances  Published:12 Aug 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea7469

Abstract

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.