Natural selection and adaptive traits in the Maniq, a nomadic hunter-gatherer society from Mainland Southeast Asia

Abstract

Asia is home to diverse hunter-gatherer populations characterized by significant morphological, anthropological, cultural, and linguistic diversity. Despite their importance in understanding ancestral human subsistence, little is known about the essential genetic adaptations of these groups. This study investigates the evolutionary pressures shaping the genome of the Maniq population, a nomadic hunter-gatherer group inhabiting the rainforests of southern Thailand. Using genome-wide approaches, including iHS, xp-EHH, PBE, and beta statistics, we identified signatures of positive and balancing selection. Genes under positive selection were enriched in pathways related to immunity, metabolic regulation, structural adaptation, cardiovascular performance, and neuromodulatory traits. Several genes associated with the Southeast Asian ‘negrito-like’ phenotype were also under positive selection. Balancing selection was primarily detected in immune-related genes, particularly within the HLA region, underscoring the critical role of genetic diversity in surviving pathogen-rich environments. Additionally, balancing selection in olfactory receptor genes highlights their importance in environmental sensing and adaptation. These results reveal the intricate interplay of positive and balancing selection in shaping the genetic landscape of the Maniq population and highlight their adaptations to the ecological and lifestyle challenges of life in the rainforest. This study contributes to our understanding of human evolutionary processes in tropical environments and hunter-gatherer societies.