THE HUMAN RACE began 60,000 years ago with a single family in an African valley.Today we have carried our genes to the very ends of the Earth--and the DNA in each of us encodes a fascinating encapsulated history of our species and its travels over the ages. Dedicated to uncovering the secrets of deep ancestry, the Genographic Project is an ambitious scientific venture of unparalleled scope and profound Implication. It's an engrossing story, and this vivid, revealing narrative from the Project's director is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring our ancient roots and the mystery of human origins.

The fossil record locates human origins in Africa, but little is known about the great journey that took Homo sapiens to the far reaches of the Earth. How did we, each of us, end up where we are? Why do we appear in such a wide array of different colours and features? Such questions are even more amazing in light of genetic evidence that we are all related - descended from a common African ancestor who lived only 60,000 years ago. Thanks to new genetic testing methods, we now know that the greatest history book ever written is the one hidden in our DNA. In Deep Ancestry", geneticist and explorer Spencer Wells unravels the slight changes in our DNA over time to tell the ancient story of our shared human journey. He also details the current work of The Genographic Project - the landmark five-year study, already underway at ten research laboratories around the globe, that will assemble the world's largest collection of DNA samples to map how humankind populated the planet.He describes how, over the next five years, the Project will use sophisticated computer analysis of DNA contributed by hundreds of thousands of people - including indigenous populations and the general public - to reveal man's migratory history and to better understand the connections and differences that make up the human race. The narrative works backward, starting from today and gradually working its way to humankind's common ancestors.From the beginning, the book taps into a reader's interest in genealogy, family history, and ethnic identity. Most of us have a decent sense of our family history, but eventually we all hit a brick wall. DNA takes us beyond it, and this is the unifying theme that will lead us from the stories of the present into the realm of deep ancestry. "Deep Ancestry" represents the very latest research on where we came from and relates them to our own personal quest to discover the deep ancestry behind our family genealogies and touch the depths of our common origins.

Introd uction

Chapter One The Block

 Chapter Two Odine's Story:The Exception

 Chapter Three Margaret's Story:The Hearth

 Chapter Four Phil's Story:The Ice

 Chapter Five Virumandi's Story:The Beach

 Chapter Six Julius's Story:The Cradle

Epilogue

 Appendix: Haplogroup Descriptions

 Glossary

 Further Reading

 About the Author

 Author Acknowledgments and Illustration Credits

Index