An international scientific effort has revealed the genetics behind Asia's diversity

The Human Genome Organisation's (HUGO) Pan-Asian SNP Consortium carried out a study of almost 2,000 people across the continent. Their findings support the hypothesis that Asia was populated primarily through a single migration event from the south. The researchers found genetic similarities between populations throughout Asia and an increase in genetic diversity from northern to southern latitudes. The team screened genetic samples from 73 Asian populations for more than 50,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These are variations in pieces of the DNA code, which can be compared to find out how closely related two individuals are genetically. The study found that, as expected, individuals who were from the same region, or who shared a common language also had a great deal in common genetically.

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Mapping Human Genetic Diversity in Asia

Genetic ancestry highly correlated with ethnic and linguistic groups in Asia