Indian Islands’ Natives Genetically Different

Natives of India’s Andaman Islands, once famed for their ferocity and unique appearance, are genetically separate from their neighbors and may be descendants of Stone Age settlers, researchers said.

Analysis of DNA from samples taken in recent times and 100 years ago show the Andaman Islanders, which include a group known as the Jarawa, are genetically different from other South Asians. The islanders, who are on the verge of extinction, have a distinct language and culture. They resemble African Pygmies and were once called “Negritos.”