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EOI Ferrol

Número 18 ANO 2020

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EOI Ferrol Número 18 ANO 2020

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www.eoiferrol.org

Summary of a news article

In the article “Origin of modern humans traced to Botswana”, Helen Briggs explains the controversial theory developed by Prof. Vanessa Hayes, which claims that our ancestors come from a specific homeland in Africa ,following research carried out on mitochondrial DNA.

Most anthropological community members accept Homo sapiens come from Africa; fossils, geological finds and environmental evidence suggest the first settlements were in several areas of this continent for 70,000 years and later, they scattered around the world until today.

Prof. Vanessa Hayes has gone further. Using genetic research (a bloodline coming from mitochondrial DNA) and geology and climate computer model simulations, she claims she has found an exact location: Lake Makgadikgadi, Botswana.

However, this hypothesis has not been welcomed by other scientists, who do not agree with this postulate, and they insist that using a small part of human genome to explain such a complex item would be too risky and reckless.

In short, the starting point of our ancestors is still a mystery.

Mª Sonia Fernández López C1.1-2