Mapping indigenous genes

A genetic project to map the origins of humanity will collect DNA samples from thousands of people across the world.

The aim is to trace the big migrations that have taken place over the past 100,000 years.

By analyzing the tiny differences between the DNA of indigenous people alive today, scientists believe they can build a map of the migratory routes that early people took.

The Genographic Project will run for at least five years and cost tens of millions of dollars, according to its director, Spencer Wells, a population geneticist.

“We’re using DNA as a tool to examine the history of our species – how we migrated around the world and got to where we are today. The ultimate goal of the Genographic Project is to show how we are all connected to each other genetically,” he said.