Sep 24 2009
Take a look at the second installment of 23andMe’s Human Prehistory 101 series. 23andMe’s creative team (led by chief illustrator Ariana Killoran) recently released “Out of (Eastern) Africa.” With this new installment, we pick up where the previous video left off, when humans were starting to take their first tentative steps beyond the shores of [...]
Jul 24 2009
In 1974, scientists digging in the dry lake bed of Lake Mungo in southeastern Australia uncovered the skeleton of a man preserved in the deep layers of sand and clay. Dating techniques eventually revealed that this individual died about 40,000 years ago.
Scientists and the popular press dubbed the individual “Mungo Man.” Why did he make [...]
Apr 30 2009
When scientific research is published, the authors often confess that they wish they’d collected more data. Critical reviews of research studies often say the same thing. Indeed, if there’s anything scientists love, it’s more data.
Which is why the members of an international team of genetic anthropologists led by Sarah Tishkoff of the University of [...]
Dec 22 2008
In the world of genetic anthropology, mitochondrial DNA and the Y-chromosome are the major players. They are regions of our genome scientists use most frequently when tracing both ancient and historical human migrations, and are an important tool for genealogists using DNA to piece together their family trees.
But another part of the human genome has [...]
Jul 03 2008
Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution conference in the striking city of Barcelona. This is the premiere conference for geneticists studying evolution in everything from bacteria to fruit flies, weeds, worms and our favorite model organism, humans! This is a highly interactive conference: almost everyone [...]
