The Journey of Man: A Genetic OdysseyAround 60,000 years ago, a man—genetically identical to us—lived in Africa. Every person alive today is descended from him. How did this real-life Adam wind up as the father of us all? What happened to the descendants of other men who lived at the same time? And why, if modern humans share a single prehistoric ancestor, do we come in so many sizes, shapes, and races? Examining the hidden secrets of human evolution in our genetic code, Spencer Wells reveals how developments in the revolutionary science of population genetics have made it possible to create a family tree for the whole of humanity. Replete with marvelous anecdotes and remarkable information, from the truth about the real Adam and Eve to the way differing racial types emerged, The Journey of Man is an enthralling, epic tour through the history and development of early humankind. |
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Page 115
Similarly the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts of central Asia are harsh , desolate
places with very few inhabitants apart from a few nomadic shepherds . There are
, however , two belts of continuous steppe across the deserts of central Iran , one
...
Similarly the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts of central Asia are harsh , desolate
places with very few inhabitants apart from a few nomadic shepherds . There are
, however , two belts of continuous steppe across the deserts of central Iran , one
...
Page 139
It appears to have arisen in central Asia or southern Siberia around 20,000 years
ago , and is distributed across Asia , from southern India to China to Siberia , as
well as throughout the Americas . It is found at highest frequency in Siberia , and
...
It appears to have arisen in central Asia or southern Siberia around 20,000 years
ago , and is distributed across Asia , from southern India to China to Siberia , as
well as throughout the Americas . It is found at highest frequency in Siberia , and
...
Page 186
Sampling of the world's genetic diversity had , until that time , concentrated mostly
on Europe , east Asia ( particularly China and Japan ) , South Africa and North
America . Central Asia was pretty much unknown - a black box ' in the genetic ...
Sampling of the world's genetic diversity had , until that time , concentrated mostly
on Europe , east Asia ( particularly China and Japan ) , South Africa and North
America . Central Asia was pretty much unknown - a black box ' in the genetic ...
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Review: The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey
User Review - Joe - GoodreadsConclusion of Wells' work is that we're all descendants of a single man who lived in Africa about 20,000 years ago. And he is convincing! Very interesting book, with some genetic science thrown in to spice it up (but it doesn't get in the way). Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - snash - LibraryThingThe book presents a picture of man's migrations between 60,000 and 10,000 years ago. It is a companion book with the TV special and provides more background into the scientific rational of the study and its conclusions. It is presented in a manner quite understandable to the lay person. Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
actually Africa agriculture allowed American analysis ancestors ancient animals answer appear archaeological Asia Asian Australia become called cent central Asia century chromosomes clan clear clearly climate coastal common continent culture defined descendants developed distribution diversity earliest early east eastern effect estimate Eurasian Europe Europeans evidence evolution evolutionary expansion fact frequency genes genetic genome gives groups India Indo-European infer journey known languages later lineages linguistic living look marker means methods Middle East migration million mitochondrial modern humans moved mtDNA Native nature Neanderthals Neolithic occurred origin particular past pattern perhaps period polymorphisms populations present probably reason recent recipes region relatively remains sample seems seen sequence similar simply single southern species spread steppe suggests thousands trace University Upper Palaeolithic variation western Y-chromosome
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey |
| Author | Spencer Wells |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2003 |
| Original from | Pennsylvania State University |
| Digitized | 29 Jun 2009 |
| ISBN | 0812971469, 9780812971460 |
| Length | 218 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |