Abstract

MOLLER, Marlo; HOAL, Eileen  and  HENN, Brenna M.. The power of contemporary African DNA: Exploring models of human evolution and health in Africa. S. Afr. j. sci. [online]. 2024, vol.120, n.1-2, pp.1-4. ISSN 1996-7489.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2024/17145.

It is generally accepted that humans evolved in Africa, but several opposing conceptual models representing our origins have been proposed. We shed light on the divergence of human populations on the African continent and challenge traditional models, suggesting a new framework - represented by a tangled vine with offshoots - in which stem populations separated but continually exchanged genetic material. This work would not have been possible without sequencing the most genetically diverse human genomes in the world; contemporary African DNA is not only key to understanding deep human history, but is also central to answering other health-related questions.

Keywords : human evolution; genetic diversity; African genomes; health implications; population genomics.

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