GENO PROJECT LAUNCHED
BY GEOGRAPHIC
Copyright 2005 National Geographic
[ April 15th 2005 ]
New DNA
studies suggest that all humans descended from
a single African ancestor who lived some 60,000
years ago. To uncover the paths that lead from
him to every living human, the National Geographic
Society today launched the 'Genographic Project'
at its Washington, D.C., headquarters.
The project
is a five-year endeavour undertaken as a partnership
between IBM and National Geographic. It will combine
population genetics and molecular biology to trace
the migration of humans from the time we first
left Africa, 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, to the
places where we live today.
Ten research
centers around the world will receive funding
from the Waitt Family Foundation to collect and
analyze blood samples from indigenous populations
(such as aboriginal groups), many in remote areas.
The Genographic Project hopes to collect more
than a hundred thousand DNA samples to create
the largest gene bank in the world.
For
more information, visit Genographic
Project at National Geographic
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