Theories of Polynesian migration through Melanesia Melanesians

lamaholot people flores island, indonesia. many of present southern mongoloid populations of indonesia , malaysia (including singapore) have high degree of australoid-melanesian genetic heritage.

the accepted theory modern austronesians originated migrations out of taiwan between 3000 , 1000 bc.

soares et al. (2008) have argued older pre-holocene sundaland origin in island southeast asia (isea) based on mitochondrial dna. out of taiwan model challenged study leeds university , published in molecular biology , evolution. examination of mitochondrial dna lineages shows have been evolving in isea longer believed. ancestors of polynesians arrived in bismarck archipelago of papua new guinea @ least 6,000 8,000 years ago.

paternal y chromosome analysis kayser et al. (2000) showed polynesians have significant melanesian genetic admixture. follow-up study kayser et al. (2008) discovered 21% of polynesian autosomal gene pool of melanesian origin, rest (79%) being of east asian origin. study friedlaender et al. (2008) confirmed polynesians closer genetically micronesians, taiwanese aborigines, , east asians, melanesians. study concluded polynesians moved through melanesia rapidly, allowing limited admixture between austronesians , melanesians. thus, high frequencies of b4a1a1 result of drift , represent descendants of few successful east asian females.