The Anzick genome provides a reference point for what the founding population’s genetic profile looked like, against which the profiles of later populations can be compared to understand how specific regional populations are related to that founding event.

Some modern Native American populations show close genetic affinity to the Anzick genome, suggesting relatively direct descent from the founding Clovis population with limited subsequent genetic input from other sources.

Others show more complex genetic profiles that reflect later admixture events, genetic drift, or connections with populations that had different proportions of the founding ancestry.

Understanding this variation requires both the ancient genome data and the analysis of modern populations, and both are active research frontiers.

The genetic diversity of modern Native American populations is not well-described by simple models in which all Native Americans descend equally directly from the Clovis founding event.