A DNA study using over 3000 samples taken over a 10-year period throughout Africa identifies an African continental corner as the origin of modern human migration, near the coastal border of Namibia and Angola. The study appears in the journal Science and shows that the African continent is the most genetically diverse place on Earth.
Samples from four African-American populations were used, tracing most of their ancestry to west Africa.
The group studied was made up of:
- 121 African populations,
- 4 African American populations, and
- 60 non-African populations
They were looking for patterns of variation at 1327 nuclear microsatellite and insertion/deletion markers. It was found that the ancestry of African Americans is mainly from Niger-Kordofanian (71%), European (13%), and other African (8%) populations, although admixture levels varied considerably among individuals.
For more details, see:
USA Today – DNA study in Africa locate origin of human migration.
Science Magazine Website – The Genetic Structure and History of Africans and African Americans.
Apparently there was a long term study involving DNA samples taken throughout Africa, which identified a southwest corner of the continent as the origin of modern human migration. This is really incredible.
The study, which I have seen in the Journal Science also depicts Africa to be the most genetically diverse place on the planet.
The 10 year study involved an international team of scientists who went into some of the continent’s absolute most remote areas to get the DNA samples. Pretty remarkable.
This study shows, on what seems to be a widely accepted theory that the highest level of genetic diversity is in the oldest population. The one that has had the longest to evolve.
The researchers also took samples from four African-American populations and traced their ancestry, mostly to west Africa.
Brian Raymond Callahan
College Park, Maryland