Homo Sapiens - Back from the brink?

It never ceases to amaze me, the resiliency of the human species. From possibly less than 2,000 to over 6.6 billion.

Early man near vanished in Africa

cormac

*Who are the oldest populations in Africa - and therefore the world?

*Did Alexander the Great's armies leave a genetic trail?

*Who were the first people to colonise India?

*Is it possible to obtain intact DNA from the remains of Homo erectus and other extinct hominids?

*How has colonialism affected genetic patterns in Africa?

*Was there any admixture with Homo erectus as modern humans spread throughout South-East Asia?

*Is there any relationship between Australian Aboriginal genetic patterns and their oral histories?

*What are the origins of differences between human groups?


these were the original main questions this group wanted to answer back in 13 April, 2005

news.bbc.co.uk...

anyone want to sum up ?

Very interesting and dare I say, Kool information.


Who are the oldest populations in Africa - and therefore the world?

Probably the Kung! and others "bushmen".

*Did Alexander the Great's armies leave a genetic trail?

They left a cultural one, not sure about the other

*Who were the first people to colonise India?

A guy name Thuge and his girlfriend, Pickles (just kidding)

*Is it possible to obtain intact DNA from the remains of Homo erectus and other extinct hominids?

As long as the bone is not fossilized*. They have been getting DNA out of Neanderthal bones dating back 40k. DNA appears to disintegrate over time. I'm not sure what the max time is - depends on when and how the bone was preserved.

*How has colonialism affected genetic patterns in Africa?

Inclusion of some European (compared to all of Africa) but mainly subcontinent genetic material

*Was there any admixture with Homo erectus as modern humans spread throughout South-East Asia?

Depends on what theory you follow, one holds that HE became MH while another holds that MH pushed out - with unknown mating habits. if they remained separate they may not have been able to mate.

*Is there any relationship between Australian Aboriginal genetic patterns and their oral histories?

Yes

*What are the origins of differences between human groups?

Random mutation and marrying within a restricted genetic pool.