The findings of a widespread study into the varied genetic make up of the populations of the continent of Africa were recently published in the online journal: Science Express.
This study collected genetic material from 121 African and African American populations and traced the ancestry of these populations to 14 genetically distinct, modern day population clusters. With this genetic material more then 4 million DNA variations were recorded which indicates the huge range of diversity within Africa. The study also found that the first humans in Africa were probably situated near the South Africa- Namibian border before spreading northeast across Africa and leaving the continent from an area near the Red Sea. When analysing the genetics of African Americans, the study found that these people were likely to have a very diverse mixture of West African ancestry which made tracing the origins of this group difficult.
This study opens new avenues of research including investigations into the genetic basis of disease susceptibility, drug resistance and the evolutionary history of man.
From: The Genetic Structure and History of Africans and African Americans -- Tishkoff et al., Science Express
By Angus Ades
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