Genomic Insights from Ancestral Remains: Tracing the Population Structure of Indigenous Australians

Abstract

Ancient DNA plays a vital role in understanding the deep history of humans. In Australia, the study of ancestral remains has assisted in understanding the cultural continuity of Indigenous Australians, providing connections between past and present communities. While genetic analyses have advanced our knowledge of how and when people arrived in Sahul, and revealed the strong geographic structure across the continent, large areas of Australia remain underrepresented or absent from genomic datasets. Advances in ancient DNA recovery have made it possible to analyse sequences from ancestral Aboriginal remains despite Australia’s challenging climate and preservation conditions. By examining the genomic structure of underrepresented regions such as southeast Queensland and comparing contemporary sequences with sequences recovered from ancestors held by the Queensland Museum, this research aims to better understand the genetic relationships that connect communities through time. 

About the Presenters

Nikita Coleshill

Nikita is a PhD candidate at Griffith University, based at the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution. Her research explores the intersection of genetics and archaeology to better understand human history through ancient DNA. She has a particular focus on the genetics of Indigenous Australians, aiming to shed light on the deep connections between ancestral remains and today’s communities. With a background in genetics, archaeology and bioinformatics, Nikita applies a wide range of techniques to recover and analyse ancient DNA to explore questions through various lenses.