Unraveling the genetic landscape and admixture dynamics of urban populations across Peru

Borda V.; Caceres O.; Sanchez C.; Padilla C.; Veliz-Otani D.; Mendes M.; Silva-Carvalho C.; Alvim I.; Maron B.A.; Gouveia M.H.; Tarazona-Santos E.; Guio H.; O’Connor T.D. · Communications Biology (2026) · DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-09671-2

Resumen

Latin American populations exhibit high genetic and phenotypic diversity shaped by complex admixture histories, yet remain underrepresented in genomic research. Here, we analyze genome-wide data from 432 urban individuals across 13 regions of Peru, including 346 newly genotyped from the Peruvian Genome Project. We reveal fine-scale population structure and demographic patterns shaped by both ancient and recent events. Indigenous American ancestries in urban individuals trace back to ancient north-south interactions consistent with archaeological records, while admixture events occurring within the last 8–10 generations involved sources already admixed between distinct ancestral lineages. Identity-by-descent analyses reveal sustained gene flow in southern Peru, while effective population size trends highlight demographic stability in Lima over the past 25 generations. Sex-biased admixture patterns suggest Indigenous ancestry contribution preferentially mediated by females. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of Peru’s genetic heritage, enhancing our understanding of human genetic diversity and historical demographic processes in Latin America. © The Author(s) 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología