Genographic Newsletter: Volume 5, Issue 4

View in Web Browser Volume 5, Issue 4 The Baalbek ruins, Lebanon. Inside the Project Genographic Project scientists Wolfgang Haak (of the Ancient DNA Center in Adelaide) and Marc Habr (of the Middle East Center in Beirut) published scientific research papers using data from the Genographic Project. Influences of history, geography, and religion on genetic structure: the Maronites in Lebanon Ancient DNA Indicates Farmers, not Just Farming, Spread West   Lisa Matisoo-Smith discusses the Genographic Project results with various village members in Emirau. From the Field Lisa Matisoo-Smith, Genographic Project Investigator at the Oceania Center in Otago, New Zealand, recently returned from a week in the field in Emirau, Papua New Guinea. Having worked with the Emirau community for the past four years, Lisa has built strong relationships with local schools and community leaders. Read Lisa's stories from the field and learn about the Emirau community's interest in their history and heritage.   Did you know? • Now in its fifth year, the Genographic Legacy Fund has supported 53 projects, which span six continents and reflect over $1.4 million dollars in grants. This year's awards went to projects in Alaska, Ghana, India, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Namibia and Nigeria. • The Genographic Project was launched in 2005 initially as a five-year project; however, our research centers will continue their field work and analysis through 2011. We anticipate that publications from the analyses of the data will continue for several years into the future and Genographic Public Participation Kits will be continue to be available for members of the public to purchase. • You can explore the Arctic with Project Director Spencer Wells. He will be joining the National Geographic Expedition to Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard. Learn more and secure your spot. A public participant uses his daughter's help to swab and participate in the event at the Adelaide Central Market. Genographic Public Swabbing Event Held in Adelaide, Australia The University of Adelaide hosted a Genographic swabbing event at the Adelaide Central Market, inviting one hundred Adelaideans to swab for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Post Doc Wolfgang Haak and Principal Investigator Alan Cooper from Genographic's Ancient DNA research center based in Adelaide, combined the results to provide insight into each individual's deep ancestry and a snapshot of Adelaide's migratory history at a public lecture held at the university. See photos from the event and learn about the results   Frequently Asked Question Q: If I have already tested with the Genographic Project, should I still give my family members a Genographic Public Participation Kit? A: Each Public Participation Kit tests either the maternal or paternal side of your DNA, following the bloodline down through the generations. If you have tested one side, you or a blood relative can still test the other side. Males possess both a Y chromosome (paternal) and mitochondrial (maternal) DNA, so they may choose to test either side with the Genographic Public Participation Kit (one test per kit). As females do not possess a Y chromosome, they can test only their maternal DNA but can discover more about their paternal lineage by asking a male blood relative to test instead. Learn more about Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA on our website. See more Frequently Asked Questions.   Three generations celebrate their heritage with the Genographic Project. Featured Migration Story We Are Still Here!: A woman's story about her family's hidden history in World War II and how she, her daughter, and her granddaughter celebrate their heritage today with the Genographic Project. We want to hear your personal migration story too. Tell us about what you learned about your deep ancestry from the Genographic Public Participation Kit. Has it changed the way you view yourself or others? Submit your story.   Support the Project Your tax-deductible donation can help us answer key questions about our shared deep ancestry and humanity's 60,000-year odyssey around the globe.   *Note that this does not constitute as a receipt or invoice for your purchase. Photographs courtesy Mark Thiessen (Genographic Public Participation Kit), Chafic Karam (Inside the Project), Glenn Summerhaye (From the Field), Bettina Cutler (Genographic Public Swabbing Event Held in Adelaide, Australia), Genographic Participant. (Featured Migration Story). If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe to this or other National Geographic emails, click here. 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