New DNA research is giving scientists a clearer view of where early Native Americans may have come from. A study published in Cell Reports examined mitochondrial DNA, which is passed through the mother’s line. Researchers focused on a rare genetic group called haplogroup D4h. (It’s Gone Viral)

The team studied around 100,000 modern DNA samples and 15,000 ancient samples. They found people with this lineage across North and South America, including areas now known as California, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Ecuador. (It’s Gone Viral)

The findings suggest there may have been two major migration waves from parts of Asia. The first may have happened between 26,000 and 19,500 years ago, while the second came later, between 19,000 and 11,500 years ago. (It’s Gone Viral)

Scientists believe some groups may have traveled along the Pacific coast, adding to older theories about migration through Beringia. The study does not answer every question, but it shows that Native American ancestry is more complex than once believed.