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Research Archives

The Journey of DNA

Posted on May 8, 2009 in Fieldwork

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Wolfgang presentation.pngPhotograph by Matt Kaplan
Wolfgang Haak discusses genotyping protocol.

Posted by Nirav Merchant.

Barcodes are everywhere you look, from products on a store shelf to express mail and books.  You are always a glance away from the omnipresent black and white bands.  So what do barcodes have to do with Genographic work in the field?  

Scientists from each Genographic regional center travel to remote locations to gather DNA samples which they collect and transport in small vials and tubes.  To ensure that there are no mix ups or data entry errors, the vials and accompanying forms are given matching barcodes, similar to labels and GPIDs in the public participation kits. Once the samples arrive back at the regional center, they are scanned using a barcode reader and they are ready to begin testing.  As the DNA travels through the various testing stages, the barcode allows us to track its progress and location. 

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Lab Collaboration

Posted on May 7, 2009 in Fieldwork

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AZgroup.JPGPhotograph by Colby Bishop.
Members of the Geno team standing in front of Arizona Research Labs 

Posted by Matt Kaplan.

We are excited to have members of the Genographic global research centers joining us here at Arizona Research Labs.

It is right here in my lab that we process the public participation samples (from the public participation kits many of you purchase on the website) for the Genographic Project. So far we have processed over 300,000 samples!

Because each individual Genographic research center processes their own field research samples - which come from our collaborations with indigenous peoples living in remote areas - this workshop is an opportunity for members from all of the Genographic laboratories to come together and address the opportunities and the challenges of coordinated global science.

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An interview with Lisa Matisoo-Smith

Posted on November 17, 2008 in Fieldwork

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Lisa.jpg
Photograph by Lindsey Larson
Dr. Lisa Matisoo-Smith, the Genographic Project's newest Principal Investigator.

The Genographic team recently met up with our newest member, Lisa Matisoo-Smith! Lisa is a Biological Anthropologist at the University of Auckland, in New Zealand.  She is best known for her research on mitochondrial DNA (that's maternal DNA, inherited from your mother only) variation in the animals that accompanied Pacific peoples in their canoes - dogs, pigs, chickens and the Pacific rat. Lisa originally studied animal DNA instead of human DNA because animals can serve as proxies for tracking the movement of the ancient exploring canoes that carried humans. This allowed her to identify the origins and interactions of the human populations in the Pacific.

Dr. Matisoo-Smith joined the Genographic project as a Principal Investigator to further our work with Pacific Island communities. She took the time to answer a couple questions for us, so click on "read this entire post" to read the interview.

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Genographic scientists uncover new piece of Phoenician legacy

Posted on October 30, 2008 in Research

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M2Fig2aF.25.11.08.4.jpg
Image by Pierre Zalloua and Rahib Hosri

We are happy to share our newest paper!  Published today in The American Journal of Human Genetics, "Identifying Genetic Traces of Historical Expansions: Phoenician Footprints in the Mediterranean" reveals how the Phoenicians, a mysterious maritime society from the first millennium B.C., left a genetic legacy. In fact, one in every 17 men in the Mediterranean basin may have a Phoenician as a direct male-line ancestor! Exciting stuff, considering that much of what was known about this enigmatic people has vanished.

Take a look at today's New York Times article, here.

You can also find a summary of the paper and links to the full text on our website, here.

Discoveries in South Africa for the Genographic Project

Posted on August 13, 2008 in Fieldwork

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San2 blogphoto.jpgPhotograph by Spencer Wells
A San Bushman woman in southern Africa; the San retain links to the deepest branch in the human family tree.

As the first Genographica blog post, it's appropriate that I'm posting from Africa - or 'the homeland', as those of us in the population genetics biz call call her.  For the past few days, some of our DC-based science team and myself have been visiting our sub-Saharan Africa regional center at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, headed by Professor Himla Soodyall. So far, we've had a fascinating discussion of the data that's already been generated, planning for several exciting projects to come, as well as a review of our laboratory procedures and other protocols.

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Genographic Kit

Welcome to the Genographic Project's blog, Genographica! Genographica will feature posts from all of the Genographic team, from our scientists based around the world, our teams at National Geographic and IBM plus guest posts as well. We hope you'll check back often and follow along with us as our work carries on!

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