The Journey of Man: A Genetic OdysseyPenguin Adult, 2003 M05 29 - 288 pages Around 60,000 years ago, a man, identical to us in all important respects, walked the soil of Africa. Every man alive today is descended from him. How did he come to be father to all of us - a real-life Adam? And why do we come in such a huge variety of sizes, shapes, types and races if we all share a single prehistoric ancestor?
In this fascinating book, Spencer Wells shows how the truth about our ancestors is hidden in our genetic code, and reveals how developments in the cutting-edge science of population genetics have made it possible not just to discover where our ancestors lived (and who they may have fought, loved, learned from and influence) but to create a family tree for the whole of humanity. |
From inside the book
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... trace ancient journeys across the landscape , providing a genealogical link back to the earliest days of human existence . Like many indigenous peoples around the world , the Abor- igines believe that they have always lived in their ...
... trace my genetic lineage back in time , I also have additional polymorphisms with names such as M9 and M89 - each one a unique change at a different position in my Y - chromosome sequence . I also have the marker M168 , which places my ...
... trace images in the dust that are similar to the animals that you bring back to camp . You find this especially frightening , and quickly rub them out when you see them . Others in the clan have noticed , though , and there have been ...