Who are we? *
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Where did we come from?
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Why are we, human beings, so spread out across the Earth?
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Why do we exist in such astonishing diversities?
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These questions linger in our minds -- bothersome and boggling. Only human imagination, mythological stories, and scientific theories can attempt to answer these unanswerable questions. Human beings are created with intense curiosity and persistence. We are determined to reach the truth. We seek for knowledge. We are bounded by these haunting questions that long to be answered. Here it is...A revolutionary project has been launched to determine our evolutionary past. I passionately present to you:
THE GENOGRAPHIC PROJECT
Geneticist Spencer Wells, in association with The National Geographic, IBM, and the Waitt Family Foundation, has launched a revolutionary five-year project determined to map humanity's journey through a concept of global genetic analysis. Fossil evidences point towards human origins in Africa. The puzzling question to be answered is, how did human beings reach the far ends of the Earth, given scientific proof that we are all the descendants of an African ancestor who roamed the Earth no more than 60, 000 years ago?
The human Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), found in the basic cell, contains genomes that portray a sequence of ancestral footprints of which could be the very key to solve this mind-boggling puzzle. In actuality, we receive half of our total genetic composition from our mother and the other half from our father. Each half then represents a shuffled combination of DNA we retrieve from our ancestors, passed down from generation to generation. Fortunately, a segment of this genome remains untouched, in chronological sequence. In these segments, the genetic code may vary due to slight genetic mutations. These mutations are easily determinable through modern technology.
NOW, NOW, NOW.
This project has to be done NOW. Time is a critical factor because the world is becoming a melting pot -- mixing populations infuse and scramble genetic signlas. Distinct peoples, languages and cultures are vanishing rapidly more than ever in this twenty-first century. With relief, the twenty-first century has enabled this project's launch with modern and accurate technology needed to successfully complete this mission. A century ago, this project would not have been possible. The Era of technology has not yet begun. DNA Analysis would not have been developed. Fifty years ago, technology was born. During this stage, people focused on creating the basic functions of technology, of which made our lives more pleasurable. People were gradually realizing the power of technology, and in twenty-five years, were able to create inventions far beyond imagination. This project could have been launched twenty-five years ago perhaps with a lower degree of speed and accuracy as it would be if launched today. Communication technologies, a DNA Analysis repository , and a database software are three essential technologies required to complete this project.
The main focus of this project is to obtain genetic samples from indigenous people, whos populations are relatively unchanged. These traditional peoples have desperately maintained their isolated ethnic and genetic identities, despite the rapid changes and infusing populations around them. They are the key -- the genetic markers that have remained unaltered over hundreds of generations. They are reliable indicators of ancient migratory patterns. However, this project is not based solely on indigenous people, but for the general public as well, to enable the geneticists to expand their database and track patterns more accurately. People all over the world are encouraged to purchase kits, costing US $99.95. They are then required to submit their cheek swabs (materials provided) to the Arizona research lab. They could then access their genetical information through the National Geographic website, with a required identification and password. There is another type of public participation, through the Genographic Legacy Fund. These funds go towards the empowerment of indigenous culture, as well as the preservation of their lifestyle, traditions, and knowledge.
I truly believe that this will be a successful project that could help us, human beings, finally discover our evolution, migration, and original ancestry. This project could also develop cultural awareness to those indigenous communities that are often neglected. This could bring racial equality and social justice to our world.
A revolution from our evolution, truly.
The human Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), found in the basic cell, contains genomes that portray a sequence of ancestral footprints of which could be the very key to solve this mind-boggling puzzle. In actuality, we receive half of our total genetic composition from our mother and the other half from our father. Each half then represents a shuffled combination of DNA we retrieve from our ancestors, passed down from generation to generation. Fortunately, a segment of this genome remains untouched, in chronological sequence. In these segments, the genetic code may vary due to slight genetic mutations. These mutations are easily determinable through modern technology.
NOW, NOW, NOW.
This project has to be done NOW. Time is a critical factor because the world is becoming a melting pot -- mixing populations infuse and scramble genetic signlas. Distinct peoples, languages and cultures are vanishing rapidly more than ever in this twenty-first century. With relief, the twenty-first century has enabled this project's launch with modern and accurate technology needed to successfully complete this mission. A century ago, this project would not have been possible. The Era of technology has not yet begun. DNA Analysis would not have been developed. Fifty years ago, technology was born. During this stage, people focused on creating the basic functions of technology, of which made our lives more pleasurable. People were gradually realizing the power of technology, and in twenty-five years, were able to create inventions far beyond imagination. This project could have been launched twenty-five years ago perhaps with a lower degree of speed and accuracy as it would be if launched today. Communication technologies, a DNA Analysis repository , and a database software are three essential technologies required to complete this project.
The main focus of this project is to obtain genetic samples from indigenous people, whos populations are relatively unchanged. These traditional peoples have desperately maintained their isolated ethnic and genetic identities, despite the rapid changes and infusing populations around them. They are the key -- the genetic markers that have remained unaltered over hundreds of generations. They are reliable indicators of ancient migratory patterns. However, this project is not based solely on indigenous people, but for the general public as well, to enable the geneticists to expand their database and track patterns more accurately. People all over the world are encouraged to purchase kits, costing US $99.95. They are then required to submit their cheek swabs (materials provided) to the Arizona research lab. They could then access their genetical information through the National Geographic website, with a required identification and password. There is another type of public participation, through the Genographic Legacy Fund. These funds go towards the empowerment of indigenous culture, as well as the preservation of their lifestyle, traditions, and knowledge.
I truly believe that this will be a successful project that could help us, human beings, finally discover our evolution, migration, and original ancestry. This project could also develop cultural awareness to those indigenous communities that are often neglected. This could bring racial equality and social justice to our world.
A revolution from our evolution, truly.
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