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Global DNA Project to Study Human Ancestry

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the search-for-eden dept.

Steve writes "The National Geographic Society and IBM are teaming up to map the history of human migration using DNA. The Genographic Project aims to collect 100,000 genetic samples which will be used trace the movements of humans out of Africa and around the globe. While the most useful samples will come from indiginous populations, members of the general public will be able to mail in their own DNA on special cheek swabs."

10 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Huge DNA repository... by avandesande · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's the matter, you dont like Jenna Jamison?

    --
    love is just extroverted narcissism
  2. Preparing its defense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is really just an attempt by IBM to prepare a defense against SCO that shows that Wookiees do not, in fact, come from Endor.

  3. Re:Polishing the tin foil by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 3, Funny

    Because we all know how EVIL National Geographic is!

    --
    Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
  4. I wonder... by hcob$ · · Score: 3, Funny

    if they accecpt other swabbing techniques? The "other" dna sources would probably get a huge male bias to the data though.

    --
    Cliff Claven
    K.E.G. Party Chairman
    Founding Leader of: Koncerned for Egalitarin Governance
  5. Re:Great by SUB7IME · · Score: 3, Funny

    Every time someone uses their hands to touch an envelope or their tongue to seal it, they are probably leaving trace amounts of *gasp* DNA on the envelope. OH NO! There's probably DNA floating around EVERYWHERE by now!

    And what if they sneezed a little virus particle onto the letter that they wrote to you!?

  6. Interesting by dfn5 · · Score: 5, Funny
    I can't wait for them to discover that humans started their migration 5,000 years ago when they were chased out of eden by the dinosaurs.

    --
    -- Thou hast strayed far from the path of the Avatar.
    1. Re: Interesting by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny


      > I can't wait for them to discover that humans started their migration 5,000 years ago when they were chased out of eden by the dinosaurs.

      You're on to them! They were going to use the DNA to backtrace the migration and find the flaming sword, which they will sell on ebay for a pretty penny.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    2. Re:Interesting by HrothgarReborn · · Score: 4, Funny

      Quit being silly. We left Eden almost 6,000 years ago. Uneducated clod.

  7. Warning! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    These cheek swabs are not oral! You have been warned.

  8. Fun with DNA samples by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd like too see their reaction if someone sent them the DNA of a chimpanzee... Given the similarity between the two DNAs, it might take them them a while to figure that one out...