Photograph by Craig Newell
Melbourne residents queued up around the block at Melbourne University to participate in the Genographic Project.
Australia's Melbourne residents, who collectively make up one of the most diverse populations in the world, explored their deep migratory history when Melbourne University hosted 'The Journey of Your Genes...The Genographic Project Traces Your Family Roots,' a special public event.
"It is a unique opportunity to highlight the incredible diversity of our city's population and to celebrate that diversity," said Melbourne University DNA expert Professor Philip Batterham, chairman of "Evolution the Festival."
Braving a chilly Sunday morning, over a 1000 people were entertained by a Chinese dragon, African drummers, and a lecture presented by Professor Alan Cooper, one of the Principal Investigators working on the Genographic Project.
The University's Evolution Festival, which marks Charles Darwin's 200th birthday, provided the setting for Melbourne residents to take part in a similar experience to the residents of Queens, New York, whose journeys were featured in the National Geographic Channel television documentary, The Human Family Tree. The first 100 people that heard about the Project and decided they wanted to participate were offered a Genographic Public Participation Kit. In a follow up event, Genographic Project Director, Spencer Wells will reveal the public's results during a lecture at Melbourne's Spot Theatre on December 6, 2009.
The Genographic Project's field research team in Australia hails from Melbourne's La Trobe University, where the initiative is overseen by Genographic Principal Investigator, John Mitchell.
Photograph by Craig NewellRepresentatives from IBM and the University of Melbourne distribute information on the Genographic Project.
Photograph by Craig Newell
Melbourne residents read Genographic Project information
Photograph by Craig Newell
African Drumming Performance entertains participants
Photograph by Craig Newell
Chinese Dragon performance entertains participants
Photograph by Craig Newell
Genographic representatives discuss the testing process with participants.
Photograph by Craig Newell
A journalist interviews Genographic Principal Investigator, Alan Cooper.
Photograph by Craig Newell
Melbourne participants swab to trace their deep ancestry. Their results will be revealed in a follow up event on December 6.
