Genetic Anthropology: New Understanding through Genetic Testing
Running head: GENETIC ANTHROPOLOGY
Genetic Anthropology:
New Understanding through Genetic Testing
Name
university
Genetic Anthropology:
New Understanding through Genetic Testing Genetic Anthropology is the study of combining DNA evidence with physical evidence to understand the history of modern human. These scientists and anthropologists are trying to understand where and when the branches of ancient and modern human existed (U.S. Department of Energy Genome Program, 2010). This field of research focuses on two main ideas. The first focus is to develop a data base of living human to compare genetic markers. These genetic markers will show how different cultures relate to each other. The second focus is to compare current genetic markers to the fossil found in the field to develop an evolutionary track of human migration and try to find out how modern humans evovled (Marks, 2012). There are many models of how Homo saipan evolved. The Multiregional Continuity Model suggests that Homo erectus left Africa and moved into the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Then these different groups evolved simultaneously into Homo saipan without direct connection to each other. The other main theory is the Out of Africa Model. This model suggests that Homo saipan evolved in Africa and then migrated into the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The leading theory in Genetic Anthropology is the Out of Africa Model (Johanson, 2001). DNA studies indicate that all modern humans have a common female ancestor through the use of PCR. By looking at mitochondrial DNA, this common female ancestor, “genetic Eve,” lived in Africa about 140,000 years ago. The “genetic Adam” lived in Africa about 60,000 years ago by looking at mutations in the Y chromosome DNA. Other fossil evidence suggest that homo Saipan was not the only homo species living at the time and homo saipan still shares some common DNA markers from these other homo species. These ancestors of homo Saipan are now
Genetic Anthropology:
New Understanding through Genetic Testing
Name
university
Genetic Anthropology:
New Understanding through Genetic Testing Genetic Anthropology is the study of combining DNA evidence with physical evidence to understand the history of modern human. These scientists and anthropologists are trying to understand where and when the branches of ancient and modern human existed (U.S. Department of Energy Genome Program, 2010). This field of research focuses on two main ideas. The first focus is to develop a data base of living human to compare genetic markers. These genetic markers will show how different cultures relate to each other. The second focus is to compare current genetic markers to the fossil found in the field to develop an evolutionary track of human migration and try to find out how modern humans evovled (Marks, 2012). There are many models of how Homo saipan evolved. The Multiregional Continuity Model suggests that Homo erectus left Africa and moved into the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Then these different groups evolved simultaneously into Homo saipan without direct connection to each other. The other main theory is the Out of Africa Model. This model suggests that Homo saipan evolved in Africa and then migrated into the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The leading theory in Genetic Anthropology is the Out of Africa Model (Johanson, 2001). DNA studies indicate that all modern humans have a common female ancestor through the use of PCR. By looking at mitochondrial DNA, this common female ancestor, “genetic Eve,” lived in Africa about 140,000 years ago. The “genetic Adam” lived in Africa about 60,000 years ago by looking at mutations in the Y chromosome DNA. Other fossil evidence suggest that homo Saipan was not the only homo species living at the time and homo saipan still shares some common DNA markers from these other homo species. These ancestors of homo Saipan are now
Cited: Genetics Home Reference. (2012, 12 17). What is mitochondrial DNA? Retrieved 12 18, 2012, from Genetics Home Reference: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics/mtdna Johanson, D Krings, M., Stone, A., Schmitz, R. W., Krainitzki, H., Stoneking, M., & Paabo, S. (1997). Neandertal DNA Sequences and the Origin of Modern Humans. Cell, 90(1), 19-30. Marks, J. (2012). The Origins of Anthropological Genetics. Current Anthropology, 53(5), 161-172. Roach, J. (2008, January 21). Massive Genetic Study Supports "Out of Africa" Theory. National Geographic News, pp. 1-2. Rogers, A. R., & Harpending, H. (1992). Population growth makes waves in the distribution of pairwise genetic differences. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 9, 552-569. Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. (2007). Mutation and Haplotype. Retrieved 12 17, 2012, from The University of Utah: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/extras/molgen/mutation_haplotype.html Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation Sorenson Molecular Geneaolgy Foundation. (2007). Mitochondrial DNA. Retrieved 12 17, 2012, from The Univeristy of Utah: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/extras/molgen/mito_dna.html Su, B., Xiao, J., Underhill, P., Deka, R., Zhang, W., Akey, J.,