Where do you really come from? No, this isn’t a ‘birds and the bees’ questions but a question relating to the genealogy of human beings – as we are today. Geneticist Spencer Wells studies human diversity – the process by which humanity, which springs from a single common source, has become so astonishingly diverse and widespread. Invited to speak at the TED conference in 2007, Spencer explains how he has concluded that all humans, alive today, are descended from one single man who lived in Africa around 60,000 to 90,000 years ago. And while our African heritage may be no secret to some, Spencer describes how this theory is proven in our DNA. Now, Spencer wants to work on his follow-up question: How did this man, sometimes called ‘Ychromosomal Adam’ become the multicultural, globe-spanning body of life known as humanity? This question was first explored in his book The Journey of Man: A genetic Odyssey, which tells of how genetic data can trace human migrations over the past 50,000 years (basically where did every one go when they left, what is now, Africa). In 2007, Spencer was given the opportunity to explore this further. With the help of Naitonal Geographic and you, Spencer will head the National Geographic Society’s multiyear Genographic Project, which uses DNA samples to trace human migration out of Africa. This is a five-year research that aims to analyse genetic patterns in DNA from participants all over the world. This is the really exciting part – anyone can be a part of the experiment by ordering a kit. Proceeds from the kit will go to indigenous conservation and revitalisation projects across the globe.
The Test:
With a simple and painless cheek swab you can sample your own DNA and submit it to the lab. Genographic Project run one test per participation kit. It will test either your mitochondrial DNA, which is passed down each generation from mother to child and reveals your direct maternal ancestry; or your Y chromosome (males only), which is passed down from father to son and reveals your direct paternal ancestry. You choose which test you would like administered.
The results:
Will reveal your deep ancestry along a single line of direct descent and show the migration paths they followed thousand of years ago.
I was drawn to this TED Talk because a friend recently told me that there is a new theory out – that everybody is from China. Was this Olympics hype, fiction or fact? With no expertise on the subject, I’ve started to do my own research and Spencer’s Ted Talk was a good start. This is an amazing project and in the near future, I will definitely be ordering my kit and will keep you informed of the results. It just shows, in all our diversity, we are truly connected.
