[shuckmaster]

the genetic variations were most frequent in Africa, just as expected if our ancestors were a subset of ancient Africans who migrated out of that continent.

It would seem to me that the region with the most genetic variations is the go to region not the migrated out of region.

[mikegi]

It would seem to me that the region with the most genetic variations is the go to region not the migrated out of region.

Not a geneticist but I did stay at Holiday Inn last night. Anyway, I *believe* that the most varied region is the oldest because it's had the most time to accumulate variations. Europe and other newer areas have less variation because they were settled later and by a (relatively) few people.

All the research into the past is fascinating but I'd really like to see where scientists think that human evolution is occuring most today. Is it in areas with large numbers of births and deaths? It seems like advanced countries have lower birth rates, which goes counter to evolution.

[SunkenCiv]

It would seem to me that the region with the most genetic variations is the go to region not the migrated out of region.

All else being equal, I'd agree with you. Just in the past 3000 years Africa has been changed a great deal by immigration and invasion. But, the longterm way of life has the most to do with the supposed greater variability. Settled agriculture (which is at least 14,000 years old, based on RC date for a multirow barley sample recovered in a dig in the Near East somewhere; the plant is a breed, not a wild variety, also it requires irrigation) leads to larger family sizes, and in just a few generations that skews the data as to what population is "older". Hunter-gatherer cultures have different lifestyles and more isolated populations.

[exDemMom]

It would seem to me that the region with the most genetic variations is the go to region not the migrated out of region.

No. If the original population has genes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, and one family decides to leave, and they all have gene D, then wherever they settle, their descendants--the new population--will have gene D, but not the other genes. While the original population still has all the genes represented (unless that family that left represented the only gene D carriers in the population).

[wyattearp]

It would seem to me that the region with the most genetic variations is the go to region not the migrated out of region.

Thank you! Occasionally, somebody says something sensible in this "out of africa" nonsense.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Doesn't work that way. The "center" gets the most mutations. Same for language. English has more variations in London than in India.