Population geneticists are studying DNA to learn more about human lineages.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is transmitted in the mitochondrion, a compartment within a cell. These mitochondria are outside the nucleus of their cells. As a result, they do not experience genetic variation from generation to generation. They pass, unchanged, from mother to children. Hence, studying mtDNA enables geneticists to trace the origins of the maternal line.
Similarly, a study of the Y chromosome enables geneticists to trace the origins of the paternal line.
James Shreeve has written a pair of articles in the March 2006 issue of National Geographic.
The first, called "The Greatest Journey" (pp. 60-69) summarizes the latest palaeoanthropological and genetic research on human migration out of Africa.
The second, called "Reading Secrets Of The Blood" (pp. 70-73) describes a five-year project "launched by the National Geographic Society" (p. 71).
The Genographic Project intends "to use genetic information gleaned from a thousand indigenous populations around the world to enhance our understanding of humanity's ancient migrations around the planet" (p. 71).
Some information is also available at the National Geographic Web site.
Last Updated: 2006-03-30
Webmaster
© copyright 2006: Maloney Family Association