02.22.08
DNA study supports African origin of man
DNA study supports African origin of man
Thu Feb 21, 5:22 PM ET
WASHINGTON – A new genetic analysis of people from around the world
adds further confirmation to the African origin of humans. The study
of genetic details from 938 individuals from 51 populations provides
evidence of how people are related and different, researchers led by
Richard M. Myers of Stanford University report in Friday’s issue of
the journal Science.
The team looked at variations in 650,000 sections of each of the DNA
samples, providing a view of the similarities and differences between
people in greater detail than had been available previously.
Scientists have long believed that modern humans first developed in
Africa and spread from there to populate the rest of the world, a
theory strongly supported by the new analysis, the researchers said.
In addition, they noted that residents of the Middle East can trace
their ancestry to both Africa and Europe, which they said is logical
since the region formed a bridge for movement back and forth between
the areas.
Also, they noted, they found a close a relationship between the Yakut
population of Siberia and native Americans, who are believed to have
migrated from Siberia via a land bridge at a time of lower sea levels.
The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
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