Out of Africa

In the beginning, there were no Whites and no Asians.  We were all Africans.

According to genetic studies, all humans evolved from a single female (named “Eve”) who lived in Africa 200,000 years ago.

How do we know?  Each generation, there are subtle changes in our DNA, which normally have little effect.  These DNA changes accumulate over time, as they are passed down from one generation to the next, and their frequency can be used for analysis of human migrations through history.  The further away from Africa you travel, the less genetic variability you see, implying that Africa was the ancient birthplace of modern man.

Sometimes these small DNA changes (or “genetic drifts”) are given specific names, to represent family branches, especially when new human migrations occur:

• After Eve, the L1 lineage branched off (some 125,500–165,500 years ago).  Today, the San and Mbuti peoples of Africa are Eve's direct descendants.  They set the stage for behavioral modernity between 100,000-50,000 years ago, when humans began to think more abstractly, engage in bartering and trade, and develop language and music
• Then, the L2 line branched off from the L1 line (around 70,000 years ago), and populated parts of western Africa.
• Another lineage, L3, also branched off from L1 (around 60,000 years ago), and populated parts of northeastern Africa

The L* lines are now largely confined to Africa (except those people who emigrated in the last 400 years, or, in that terrible chapter of human history, were captured and sold elsewhere as slaves).

• Around 60,000 years ago, a new branch, the M lineage, split from the L3 line and departed from Africa and crossed the Red Sea into the Middle East.
• From there, the M lineage migrated to Asia, and a new N lineage migrated to Europe. There are very few of the M lineage in Europe, but there are N's mixed with M's in Asia.
• Later (14,000 years ago, although some say it was 30,000 years ago), some Asians migrated across the Bering Straight to populate North and South America.  These are the American Indians, and other native peoples

In summary, if someone asks you where you're from originally, you'd never be wrong to say "Africa".

Comments

[Doug McMillan]

Very doubtful.