Invasion of the Genes Genetic Heritage of India

Many historical events such as invasions, wars, civil unrests, migrations, and religious conversions have shaped the genetic heritage of India. These events created a potpourri of cultures and genes. The invaders came from Central Asia, Afghanistan, Arabia, Iran, Greece, Britain, France, and Portugal to loot and plunder wealth, but also left their genes behind among Indians irrespective of their caste or creed. The origin and migration of early man from Africa across the planet, the impact of the caste system and Indian religions on restricting gene flow, and the repeated breakdown of the caste system during the past 5,000 years are explained in Invasion of the Genes. A biologist and a geneticist, Prof. B.S. Ahloowalia says the prime motivation in writing the book was based on observing the similarity in culture, language, and resemblance of physical features between people of Persia, Arabia and North India. Dr. Ahloowalia did his Ph.D. from University of Chicago, and worked for the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Dublin, Ireland. Later, he also worked for the International Atomic Energy Agency and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.