This is another book in my goal of reading all of the books by this author, who died in 2020.
I've read his other books: Saxons, Vikings and Celts, Adam's Curse, and The Seven Daughters of Eve.
While they are now somewhat out of date, it was fascinating to see the evolution of our understanding of using DNA to trace biogeographical ancestry, human migration patterns and the differences between the genders.
In this one, Sykes travelled across the U.S. to research the origins of the U.S. population. While we're familiar with Christopher Columbus and the Pilgrims, he takes a deeper dive that explores the Native Americans that were here first and the slaves that were brought here against their will.
He explains the origins of chromosome painting from the HapMap scientists that had worked on the Human Genome project. He takes us through gathering samples (sadly, they appear to no longer be available after his death and the shuttering of his company, Oxford Ancestors) and identifying where the testers ancestors had come from.
An interesting read that makes me sad he is no longer with us.
Quote:
"...whether from an endo- or exogamous ancestry, there will inevitably come a point where one person is the ancestor of everyone alive. "
Published: 2012 Read: November 2023 Genre: Science
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