Researchers use 21st century genomics to estimate Samoan population dynamics over 3,000 years

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Reconstructing how many individuals first settled the many small islands in the Pacific and when they arrived remain important scientific questions, as well as an intriguing ones for understanding human history. Human migrations into the islands of Remote Oceania — from circa 3,000 to 1,200 years ago — mark the last major movement into locations previously uninhabited by humans. 

These questions are also crucial as part of scientific efforts to understand the role of early history of Pacific islanders on contemporary public health problems including obesity and associated non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. READ MORE