Book:Who We Are and How We Got Here
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 2:22 pm
Super fascinating book covering the recent results in DNA analysis, from modern DNA from us, to DNA extracted from 50,000 year old bones. The recent ability to analyze the ancient DNA is blowing up tons of previously known “facts” about the history of humanity. Couple of examples:
- early humans branched off from Neanderthals some 100,000s years ago, but then bumped into each other in Europe and got it on around 50K years ago, doing a bunch of genetic mixing. Then the Neanderthals disappeared.
- none of current Britons share DNA with the Stonehenge creators. They were replaced and wiped out with no mixing. This happened repeatedly over the globe, the originals get wiped out clean or maybe get mixed in but otherwise disappear.
- Records of mitochondrial DNA (passed down from woman to woman) versus the chromosomes which include male mixing, basically show that when men show up to a population they go on a genetic spreading spree. You get the idea.
- European men can trace their genetic lineage to one dude about 5000 years
Etc. if you’re looking for a last second gift at the bookstore, this one is interesting.
- early humans branched off from Neanderthals some 100,000s years ago, but then bumped into each other in Europe and got it on around 50K years ago, doing a bunch of genetic mixing. Then the Neanderthals disappeared.
- none of current Britons share DNA with the Stonehenge creators. They were replaced and wiped out with no mixing. This happened repeatedly over the globe, the originals get wiped out clean or maybe get mixed in but otherwise disappear.
- Records of mitochondrial DNA (passed down from woman to woman) versus the chromosomes which include male mixing, basically show that when men show up to a population they go on a genetic spreading spree. You get the idea.
- European men can trace their genetic lineage to one dude about 5000 years
Etc. if you’re looking for a last second gift at the bookstore, this one is interesting.