Where Did We Come From? Where Did We Go?
Zuni legend tells us that humankind evolved
from amphibious forms in the belly of Mother Earth, after she mated with
Father Sky. Peoples all over the world have developed origin stories to
explain why we're here, who we are, and where we're going. Now, genetic
researchers are beginning to write a new account of our origins, through
the study of DNA. This program tells us how DNA may have come into
existence and how genetic studies have contributed to evolution theories
so far. And it explores the controversies raised by genetic research.
Our DNA - our collection of genes - is the
essential mechanism of evolution. Human DNA is 98 percent the same as the
DNA of chimpanzees; but it's also 70 percent the same as the DNA of yeast.
So what makes humans uniquely different from chimpanzees or yeast? One
thing might be the way in which we created language and culture, and how
we developed these things in different ways all over the earth. In other
words, genetic studies can tell us how human migration occurred - when we
appeared, what we were like, and where we went.
By gathering genetic information from
isolated populations, the Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) aims to
decipher those mysteries. Scientists hope that this data, in combination
with traditional archaeological and linguistic research, can tell us a
great deal more about our past and our relationships. But there is strong
opposition from people who see the HGDP as little more than highly
unethical opportunism: "colonialism at the molecular level."
Hear both sides of the debate, and find out
from the researchers themselves how they think the story begins. We'll
have to stay tuned for the ending. |