Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Shallow Roots of the Human Family Tree

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the easy-to-blow-away dept.

An anonymous reader writes to mention an AP story about research discussing the relatively recent origins of every human on earth. Despite the age of our species, every human on earth can trace their ancestry back to someone who may have lived as recently as the Golden Age of Greece (around 500 BC). From the article: "It is human nature to wonder about our ancestors -- who they were, where they lived, what they were like. People trace their genealogy, collect antiques and visit historical sites hoping to capture just a glimpse of those who came before, to locate themselves in the sweep of history and position themselves in the web of human existence. But few people realize just how intricately that web connects them not just to people living on the planet today, but to everyone who ever lived."

6 of 760 comments (clear)

  1. The ultimate ancestors? by Porchroof · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Can someone tie this in with the ultimate ancestors: Adam and Eve? Using the chronology in the Torah, they lived roughly 5 to 6000 years ago.

    --
    Fata viam invenient.
  2. Re:Family Tree Grafting by Tatarize · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    The test is probably real, it's just that there isn't really set "race genes." There are plenty of dark skin genes in whites as well as white skin genes in blacks. It's just the frequency is really low. The genetic differences are a couple cosmetic things and they are only in lower frequency. If any "race" were removed from the gene pool, almost no genes would be removed. Those that were would probably be removed from small family groups before the gene got popular.

    In any event, yeah the test is probably mostly bs.

    --

    It is no longer uncommon to be uncommon.
  3. Re:Christians claim to be children of Abraham? by Rob+Bos · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    gaaaaah flashbacks. :( :(

    Christian child's music really does a job of indoctrination.

  4. Re:Christians claim to be children of Abraham? by raehl · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Right Arm, Left Arm... (There was some weird "hokey pokey"ish dance aspect to it.)

    It helps the brainwashing take.

    --
    paintball
  5. Aha.. by The+Creator · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    "That was never intended to be a genetic claim but a spiritual one. Think of it something like adoption."

    Reinterpretation is the vaseline of religious intercource. -- The Creator

    --

    FRA: STFU GTFO
  6. Re:Somewhat misleading by leenks · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    How can you be wrong about fiction?

    Now +1 troll the hell out of me ;-)