Ancient CivilizationsGenome Study Reveals How Human Populations Adapted, Survived, And Diversified In The Himalayas Posted on July 31, 2025 by Administrator A recent genomic study reveals how human populations adapted, survived, and diversified in the challenging Himalayan environment. Conducted by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with international partners from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, this research analyzed whole-genome sequences from various Himalayan ethnic groups. Many of these groups had not been genetically studied at this level before. The study reveals that population structure in the Himalayas began over 10,000 years ago—well before archaeological evidence suggests permanent settlement at high altitudes. This early divergence challenges previous assumptions about when and how diverse groups accessed these extreme elevations.