In a groundbreaking study, the University of Birmingham has unveiled the first ancient genomes from Eastern Arabia, shedding light on the genetic adaptations of ancient populations to malaria.

The research, led by experts from Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Birmingham Dubai, and the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and other Arabian institutes, analyzed DNA from four individuals from Tylos-period Bahrain (300 BCE to 600 CE).

The study revealed the presence of the malaria-protective G6PD Mediterranean mutation in three of the samples, suggesting that ancient inhabitants of Eastern Arabia may have developed resistance to malaria around five thousand years ago, coinciding with the onset of agriculture in the region.

Additionally, the genetic analysis showed that the ancestry of these ancient Bahrainis had links to populations from Anatolia, the Levant, and Caucasus/Iran. Surprisingly, they were genetically closer to present-day populations from the Levant and Iraq than to Arabians.

Lead researcher Rui Martiniano emphasized the significance of the findings, highlighting how the rise in frequency of the G6PD Mediterranean mutation corresponds to the advent of agriculture, creating favorable conditions for the spread of malaria.

Marc Haber from the University of Birmingham Dubai underscored the broader implications of the study, stating that it provides unprecedented insights into human history and disease progression in Eastern Arabia. This knowledge, he noted, could inform future research on disease susceptibility, spread, and treatment, leading to improved health outcomes.

Fatima Aloraifi from the Mersey and West Lancashire NHS Trust emphasized the importance of studying the genetic history of Arabian populations, which has been largely overlooked, and how the findings pave the way for further research into human population movements in harsh climates.

The study was made possible by the collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, which provided access to ancient human remains stored at the Bahrain National Museum. While DNA was extracted from 25 individuals, only four were sequenced to higher coverage due to preservation challenges.

Richard Durbin from the University of Cambridge expressed excitement about the opportunity to analyze ancient human genetic data from Bahrain's burial mounds, thanking colleagues for their support and contributions.

The discovery of malaria adaptation in ancient Eastern Arabians aligns with archaeological and textual evidence of malaria's historical prevalence in the region, offering new insights into the genetic and historical dynamics of ancient populations in Eastern Arabia.