A global map for introgressed structural variation and selection in humans

P PingHsun Hsieh (Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.) N Natthapon Soisangwan (Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.) D David S. Gordon (Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.) A Athef Javidh (Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.) W William T. Harvey D David Porubsky K Kendra Hoekzema C Carl Baker (Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.) K Katherine M. Munson C Christopher Kinipi (The University Clinic, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.) M Matthew Leavesley (Strand of Anthropology, Sociology and Archaeology in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea.) N Nicolas Brucato M Murray P. Cox (College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.) F François‐X Ricaut (Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l’Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France.) I Irene Gallego Romero (Human Genomics and Evolution, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Australia.) E Evan E. Eichler

Abstract

Genetic introgression from Neanderthals and Denisovans shaped modern human genomes; however, introgressed structural variants (SVs ≥ 50 base pairs) remain challenging to discover. We integrated high-quality phased assemblies from four new Papua New Guinea (PNG) haploid genomes with 94 published assemblies of diverse ancestry to infer an introgressed SV map. Introgressed SVs are enriched in genes (47%), including critical genomic disorder regions, and are most abundant in PNG genomes. We identified 11 centromeres likely derived from archaic hominins, adding unexplored diversity to centromere genomics. Pangenome genotyping of these 98 assemblies across 1363 samples revealed 16 adaptive SVs, many associated with immune-related genes and expression, in the PNG genomes. We hypothesize that archaic SVs contributed to reproductive success, underscoring introgression as a major force in human adaptive evolution.

Article Details

Journal Science
Volume / Issue Vol. 392, Issue 6803
Published June 11, 2026
ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science

Journal Info

Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN: 0036-8075 Social Sciences

Authors (16)

P

PingHsun Hsieh

Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.

N

Natthapon Soisangwan

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.

D

David S. Gordon

Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.

A

Athef Javidh

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.

W

William T. Harvey

D

David Porubsky

K

Kendra Hoekzema

C

Carl Baker

Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.

K

Katherine M. Munson

C

Christopher Kinipi

The University Clinic, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

M

Matthew Leavesley

Strand of Anthropology, Sociology and Archaeology in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea.

N

Nicolas Brucato

M

Murray P. Cox

College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

F

François‐X Ricaut

Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l’Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France.

I

Irene Gallego Romero

Human Genomics and Evolution, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Australia.

E

Evan E. Eichler