Global Analysis of Human DNA Tracks Migration... ( Geography determines similarities dif...)

Global Analysis of Human DNA Tracks Migration, Identity

Date:2/21/2008

Geography determines similarities, differences in DNA, studies find

THURSDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In the largest such examination of human genetic diversity yet conducted, an international team of geneticists has used clues in DNA to track differences and similarities between people around the globe.

Reporting in the Feb. 22 issue of Science, a team led by Richard Myers, of Stanford University, looked at more than 650,000 variants in individual genes, called single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in 938 unrelated volunteers in countries around the world.

Among other findings, the new data support the notion that "a small group of individuals migrated out of eastern Africa and their descendants subsequently expanded into most of today's populations," the researchers wrote.

That expansion occurred mainly over the past 100,000 years, the team says. Using high-tech DNA analysis of the SNPs, they were able to determine the distinct genetic identities of eight European groups of modern humans, as well as four in the Middle East. They also believe that shared genes found among Native Americans and certain groups in Russia "reflects shared ancestry before the predecessors of the Native Americans crossed the Bering Strait."

The report in Science follows on the heels of similar international efforts by other researchers, reported in two studies published in the Feb. 21 issue of Nature.

Noah Rosenberg, co-senior author of one of two Nature studies, explained that his group has "investigated genetic similarities of populations across a very large number of sites in the human genome. We found that it's possible, with a high degree of accuracy, [to tell] which continent, in which population, the individual comes from."

In addition, the primary determinant of genetic similarities and differences seems to be geographic location, said Rosenberg, who is an as
'/>"/>

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4
Related medicine news :

1. Venture Global Limited Introduces an Innovative Anti-Cellphone Radiation Sticker Named VEGO Power Blocker
2. HOYA ConBio Announces Educational Agreement With LVI Global
3. WeissComm Partners Names Tom Jones Managing Director to Deepen Global Product Communications Offering
4. Global Med Technologies(R), Inc. Adds Internationally Renowned NewYork- Presbyterian Hospital to Client List
5. Researchers aim to prevent global prematurity and stillbirths
6. Researchers Aim to Prevent Global Prematurity and Stillbirths
7. Large changes needed to address global obesity epidemic
8. Wyeth Consumer Healthcare Names New Head of Global R&D
9. Global Med Technologies(R), Inc. Receives FDA 510(K) Clearance for ElDorado Donor(TM)
10. Global Med Technologies(R), Inc. Recieves FDA 510(K) Clearance for ElDorado Donor(TM)
11. New study shows extent of harmful human influences on global ecosystems

Post Your Comments:

Global Analysis of Human DNA Tracks Migration...( Geography determines similarities dif...),Health