Anthropological issues in genetic admixture

Studies of genetic admixture a direct result of human migrations, can identify past gene flows between populations and confirm or contradict historical, linguistic and archaeological data. In the last few years, genomewide studies have been producing a great deal of molecular data that can be used to infer past genetic admixture with the help of complex demographical and statistical models. Based on prehistoric genetic admixture events among Denisovans, Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, and historical admixture as in Central Asia, North and South America, Melanesia or the Indian Ocean, we discuss the contributions of genetic admixture studies in furthering our understanding of the demographic history of these populations and, more generally, of the role played by genetic admixture in human populations. © 2012 Société d'anthropologie de Paris et Springer-Verlag France.