Early humans' route out of Africa 'confirmed'

BBC ^ | November 2, 2011

[decimon]

A six-year effort to map the genetic patterns of humankind appears to confirm that early people first left Africa by crossing into Arabia.

Ancestors of modern people in Europe, Asia and Oceania migrated along a southern route, not a nothern route through Egypt as some had supposed.

The results from the Genographic Project are published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

It suggests an important role for South Asia in the peopling of the world.

The ancestors of present-day non-African people left their ancestral homeland some 70,000 years ago.

The researchers found that Indian populations had more genetic diversity - which gives an indication of the age of a population - than either Europeans or East Asians.

This supports the idea that pioneering settlers followed a southern coastal route as they populated east Asia and continued into Oceania.

A route out of Africa via the Arabian Peninsula, along the southern coast of Asia, explained the observed patterns in genetic diversity much better than a route through Egypt's Sinai desert.

This supports other evidence showing that sea levels might have been low enough around 60-70,000 years ago for humans to cross from the horn of Africa into Arabia via the Bab-el-Mandeb straits in the Red Sea.

[camle]

since there’s really only one way out of africa by land, this shouldn’t have been too difficult.

[mass55th]

"This means you can safely put African-American on all university and job applications."

A few years ago, I participated in National Geographic's Genographic Project, and found that my ancestors originated in Africa and made the trek to Europe. Before I'd even gotten the results back, I lightly commented: "Watch them tell me my family came from Africa." I was blown away when I finally saw the results. If I'm still alive for the next census, I might just claim African-American lineage :-)

[mass55th]

"My DNA was included in this study. "

Mine too!!

[Reeses]

That looks like a map of Barky Bambino’s upbringing.

[PapaBear3625]

I'm going to guess that one factor that drove human expansion out of Africa by that route was the development of fishing techniques and boat/raft building. That would have led to rapid human territorial expansion along the coasts and rivers.

Once early humans figured out how to make fish traps, spears, and hooks, they had access to a convenient and plentiful supply of food.

[decimon]

Aren’t these scientists the same ones that have proven global warming beyond any doubt?

No.

[Pharmboy]

As was mine...

[blam]

"As was mine... "

Yup.

Our R1b dominates in Europe because we have more boys than girls...from a new study. (a look around my family supports)

[Pharmboy]

Interesting...I guess I’m the exception that tests the rule: 4 girls, 1 boy.

[wildbill]

Early Africans
Left in Waves
Looking for their
Burma Shaves

[blam]

"Interesting...I guess I’m the exception that tests the rule: 4 girls, 1 boy. "

I'm grateful...we need good-looking women too. (ahem)

[Pharmboy]

Why thank you...and they are all adorable!