The caste system transformed Indian genetics - David Reich

[DwarkeshPatel]

Dr. David Reich is a geneticist at Harvard. Check out his 2010 Nature paper, "Reconstructing Indian Population History, " to learn about the research he's discussing here in depth.


I learned a lot from my conversation with him, where we explored this topic and many others in greater depth. I highly recommend watching the full episode, which you can find linked above the title or on my channel!

[Madmun]

Very few exceptions, the 300, 000, 000 of you named Patel.

[dustincaso]

My boss is a Patel from India. Really cool dude. I asked him if the way the last names work in India are just a kinder softer version of the old cast system. He said yes.

[druegnor]

Basically cast system is stupid and detrimental for human genetic evolution?

[laynemartin]

I'm still struck by the time in my preschool class where a North Indian woman said something about a South Indian kid in my class that made my blood boil. It's not everyone, but it is still alive and bad.

[landonhagan]

It’s actually crazy how the caste system affected every single facet of Indian civilization all the way up to today. There are lots of particular cultural phenomena that are similarly old and influential but few so all encompassing in their consequences.

[nco]

Looking at the history of mankind through the prism of genetics is always so interesting.

[moondust]

I did not understand a word this man said

[ajayvembu]

I would love more if someone from India talked about the caste system in India. It’s not very simple as you point out Rig Veda as the root cause.

[Simbu.]

In the state Tamil Nadu, they abolished the use of caste name as the surname. So, currently they use their father's name as surname. That's why you can see so many non-Tamil Indians have more common and wide spread surname like Patel, Sharma, Modi, Reddy, Gowda, etc.. these names are associated with caste.

[ThatGuy-sn]

Yeah even the texts say it could happen in GUPTA period, but in early VEDIC period the mix was normal. There is a hymn in RigVeda that suggests that caste was not hereditary by birth but it later became very rigid at the end of later Vedic period . But it's useless in current scenario and rather pulling the society away from greater good it should be totally abondoned

[nutzhazel]

So, he just explained how Indian genetics becomes stagnant because of their ongoing racism and casteism where Indians don't marry outside of their race and they don't marry outside of their caste.

[QuirkyAvik]

I found gold with this short. The topics discussed are awesome and grip me like nothing else.

[aykayrocks]

This is actually quite right. If you ever come to India, while travelling from one state to another, you will notice that people look different in different states.

[dredlew]

India has a very rich and long history of keeping the poor very poor.

[nathanpmyoung]

Not a big fan of the AI images here. Hard to tell if they are accurate representations of the thing he's talking about.

[Spacelover]

It’s funny because I’m a half South Indian half white person, and I ran my face through Ai and it said I’m either from north India or Pakistan. It said the same thing six times.

[nesxya]

Layman's terms:
The DNA is a gradient pattern across India from north to south dividing into two main ancestral branches on each end. Think of gradients like concentration. Like dropping something into a cup of water without stirring it. Example: Salt in water, sugar in water, dye in water. The concentration is not consistent through the cup.

The DNA changes in sequence patterns from north to south like gradient concentrations. The DNA patterns slowly change.

Unlike most countries where the DNA is like a stirred cup and concentration is equal throughout the water. The DNA sequences are the same throughout a region unless gene flow is restricted.

Example: France would be colored solid Green for its DNA sampling. India would be Blue at top and Red at the bottom with Purples in the middle due to the gradient changing/overlapping.

The caste system set this gradient in place instead of India being colored in as solid purple.

Hopefully that helps.
As for all the ignorant comments. Please don't be that person. Please don't project your lack of understanding on Central Asians/Indians. Its a giant country with lots of cultural diversity and a rich history. Thank you.

Sending much love to India 💖

Edit: Made the explanation more simple for folks who like laying around. Thank you everyone for the humor and keeping the mood happy. 😘

[jedilady]

When north Indians get mad for being discriminated in America or Europe, when in fact they discriminate their own people, the caste!!!😂

[YtubeUserr]

Caste System: Harming Indian genetics for 1000s of years and still harming.