@article {333886, title = {Jomon genomics reveal cold adaptation in Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers of eastern Eurasia}, journal = {Science Advances}, volume = {12}, year = {2026}, month = {2026/08/14}, 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.

}, isbn = {2375-2548}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea7469}, url = {https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aea7469}, author = {Watanabe, Yusuke and Wakiyama, Yoshiki and Waku, Daisuke and Valverde, Guido and Tanino, Akio and Hayashi, Mizuki and Naka, Izumi and Nakamura, Yuka and Suzuki, Tsubasa and Koganebuchi, Kae and Gakuhari, Takashi and Katsumura, Takafumi and Ogawa, Motoyuki and Toyoda, Atsushi and Nuchnoi, Pornlada and Chaorattanakawee, Suwanna and Hananantachai, Hathairad and Patarapotikul, Jintana and Mizushima, Soichiro and Nagaoka, Tomohito and Hirata, Kazuaki and Yoneda, Minoru and Motoi, Midori and Toyoshima, Hideo and Maeda, Takafumi and Nishimura, Takayuki and Masuyama, Tadayuki and Yamada, Yasuhiro and Takahashi, Ryuzaburo and Izuho, Masami and Ohashi, Jun and Oota, Hiroki} }