The Mystery Around Our Migration History
By Anu Acharya, CEO, MapmyGenome
There are some elusive questions that still remain semi-answered — who we are and where we came from. DNA technology has shown us that even though we are 99.9% alike to other humans, it is the 0.1% difference that came in due to our journey in space and time. Human migration is key to understanding how external factors have influenced and shaped our genes. And far more fascinating is that our DNA carries traces of history and geography from thousands of years ago.
The Out of Africa Theory
One of the most popular theories of human migration is the Out of Africa theory. DNA science has helped confirm it. The migration of modern humans from Africa commenced some 60,000 years ago, advancing first into Europe and Asia, and more recently into Australia and the Americas. The most exciting part is that their genetic footprints are still visible — and as population genomics efforts across the world continue, the mapping will become more complete.
What Migration Theories Tell Us Today
The most exciting thing today is the fact that we can look at these theories with a genetic lens. One can find layers of information such as closeness to other populations, migration paths, and maternal and paternal migration paths — which may be useful for understanding history better. But even more exciting is when we overlay all these subjects: one can see the effects migration has had on our health and wellness. Who knew that we could see traces of history that snuck into our DNA?
Check out the tweet on Genomepatri Heritage by Dr. Shashi Tharoor — elected Member of Parliament and former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
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Genomepatri Heritage by MapmyGenome reveals your deep ancestral origins — tracing your maternal and paternal lineages across thousands of years of human migration. Backed by India’s largest genomic database and certified genetic counselling.
