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Sunday, February 18

My part of the human journey

I've sent off for a genetics testing kit to be part of the Genographic research by National Geographic. I first heard of this when Dr. Spencer Wells did an interview on our local PBS affiliate.

Basically they will look for particular genetic markers, haplogroups, and be able to trace what they call "deep ancestral history." I don't expect to find anything radical concerning my ancestors but I do think its an interesting gimmick to get people interested in the real subject matter: tracing genetic migration via indigenous peoples.

Why indigenous peoples? Because they are lived in one area for a very long time and have limited interbreeding with other genetic groups. So study of my genes won't yield the same interest.

However, some are taking exception to further genetic study of indigenous tribes with supposedly nearly every federally recognized tribe is refusing to participate. There is a gamut of reasons given, one being that indigenous peoples would lose all their special rights if it is found they are related to early humans on the African continent. I think the whole business about indigenous rights is a mess.

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posted by Natebot at 8:31 PM | 3 comments | Email This!

 
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