HYDERABAD: City-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Telangana state archaeology department have embarked upon a mega mission to unravel the genetic mystery and ancestral roots of natives of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh The first-of-its-kind research on people south of Vindhyas will explore the realms of ancient DNA to decode genesis of natives in modern-day AP and Telangana. It will also throw light on genetic structure of ancient people, who settled down in the Deccan plateau and coastal plains, centuries ago.CCMB researchers will also unearth food habits and lifestyles of natives of the twin states and whether they were afflicted by a particular disease.Study on ancient DNA is an emerging field of research worldwide. CCMB is the only scientific body in south Asia equipped with an exclusive DNA research lab.It has already entered into an agreement with Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) to unravel the mystery of skeletal remains discovered during excavation of ancient sites. On Thursday, it signed MoU with Telangana state archaeology department to study bone samples collected from various places in AP and Telangana over years.Speaking to TOI, CCMB senior principal scientist K Thangaraj said, “We studied a few samples and got promising results. Now, we have decided to take up a fullfledged research. We have a state-of-the-art ancient DNA laboratory. Analysis of skeletal and tooth samples will give us an insight into the genetic make-up of ancient people. By matching DNA, we can also find out from which part of the globe our ancestors came and when they settled down in the region.“Dr Thangaraj, a leading geneticist, has been involved in decoding genetic map of people around the world, including origin of man in the Indian sub-continent and the Andamans. In an earlier research publication, he had pointed out that “variable social customs, strict endogamy practices, long-term isolation and evolutionary forces added to diversification of Indian populations.These factors also led to a set of Indian-specific genetic variations responsible for various diseases in India. Interestingly, most of these variations are absent outside Indian subcontinent.“This is the first time CCMB is doing a full-fledged study on skeletal remains obtained from AP and Telangana. CCMB will also help in reconstruction of the evolutionary history of man in Deccan plateau and coastal plains through molecular evidence from ancient bone remains.Dr Rakesh Mishra, CCMB director, said the MoU will help combine ancient human remains of Telangana with world-class DNA technology of CCMB. “By this initiative we anticipate to understand our ancient civilization and heritage,“ he said.