Fifteenth century CE Bolivian maize reveals genetic affinities with ancient Peruvian maize.

ABSTRACT: Previous archaeological and anthropological studies have demonstrated the myriad of ways that cultural and political systems shape access to food and food preferences. However, few studies have conducted a biocultural analysis linking specific genotypic/phenotypic traits as evidence of cultural selection in ancient contexts. Here, we provide insight into this topic through ancient genome data from Bolivian maize dating to ~500-600 BP, included as an offering with the mummified remains of a young girl. These data are compared to 16 previously published archaeological maize samples spanning at least 5000 years of evolution, and 226 modern maize samples. Our phylogenetic analysis showed that the archaeological Bolivian maize (aBM) has the closest genetic distance to the archaeological maize f

SUBMITTER: Chen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12626418 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature