Researchers from CISS — Margarita Reyes-Madrid, Francisca Vásquez-Estay, Valentina Gutiérrez, and Nicolás Montalva - analyzed the genetic diversity of 466 individuals from 15 agropastoral communities in the Coquimbo region, an area characterized by an economy based on goat herding and transhumant mobility that seasonally connects Chile and Argentina. By studying 15 genetic markers (STRs), the team identified high genetic diversity in these communities and a close relationship with populations from northern Chile and northwestern Argentina.

This work addresses a significant gap in knowledge about rural communities in Latin America, while contextualizing the genetic structure of the Coquimbo population by comparing it to other populations from South America and around the world. The results highlight how cultural practices, such as mobile pastoralism, can influence genetic diversity among communities.

Beyond its value in population genetics, this study also has implications in forensic science, by expanding the databases needed for identity and kinship analysis. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of human diversity in rural and understudied contexts, integrating cultural, historical, biological, and geographical dimensions.

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