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One of the first areas where early human populations moving out of Africa settled is the area now known as the Arabian Peninsula. Now research into the genetic make-up of thousands of people in Qatar which lies on the coast of the peninsula has given us an insight into the diverse ancestry of the population.

Perhaps more importantly, bearing in mind the coronavirus pandemic that continues to threaten many parts of the world with death, the research also has significance for improving healthcare for people with genomes that have had less research than, for example, northern European populations.

Dr Younes Mokrab of Sidra Medicine in Qatar, where he is a Principal Investigator in Medical and Population Genetics, worked on the project in collaboration with the Qatar Genome Programme.

鈥淲e identified a group of ancient peninsula Arabs - closest descendants from the early humans who migrated out of Africa and started farming in the Levant region then spreading all over the world."

"This study (confirms) Arabia was not just a passage through in terms of migration but a landmark and pretty much vibrant in those early stages of human migration."

(Pic: Younes Mokrab; Credit: Younes Mokrab)

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