1. Match the terminology with the definitions.

1. DNA A single piece of DNA, which contains many genes and other nucleotide sequences. 2. gene The process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it. 3. chromosome The basic biological units of inheritance. Composed of DNA. 4. genetic marker The material inside the nucleus of cells that carries genetic information. 5. analysis A known DNA sequence which can be used to study the relationship between an inherited disease and its genetic cause. 6. What does DNA stand for? a) domain name accepted b) deoxyribonucleic acid c) details not available

2. Skim-read the article to find the answers to these questions.

Why and when do scientists think a small group of our ancestors left Africa? In which order (first, second, third) did they reach these continents? Europe, Asia, Australasia? What happened approximately 10,000 years before they left Africa? Which species was wiped out by Homo sapiens? Who are the backers of the genographic project? How much is the project costing? What have the scientists discovered about the Crusaders and Genghis Khan? Which people are genetically the closest to our original ancestors?

The incredible journey taken by our genes

Project maps humanitys voyage out of Africa to new continents and domination of the world Robin McKie, science editor Sixty thousand years ago, a small group of African men and women took to the Red Sea in tiny boats and crossed the Mandab Strait to Asia. Their journey of less than 20 miles marked the moment Homo sapiens left its home continent. The reason for our ancestors African exodus is not known, though scientists suspect food shortages, triggered by climate change, were involved. However, its impact cannot be overestimated. Two thousand generations later, descendants of these African migrs have settled our entire planet, wiped out all other hominids including the Neanderthals and have reached a population of 6.5 billion. Now scientists are completing a massive study of DNA samples from a quarter of a million volunteers in different continents in order to create the most precise map yet of mankinds great dispersion. Last week, in Tallinn, Estonia, they outlined their most recent results. As the ultimate ancestor begat son, who begat son and so on, they picked up mutations in their DNA that we can now pinpoint by gene analysis, said project leader Dr Spencer Wells. When we look at these markers distributions we can see how our ancestors moved about. Scientists have known for several years that modern humans emerged from sub-Saharan Africa within the past 100,000 years. However, the 25m Genographic project backed by National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation has recently transformed that knowledge by providing a mass of highly detailed information about our African exodus. After emerging into the Arabian Peninsula, some of our ancestors took sea routes along the south Asian coast to reach Australia 50,000 years ago. Only later, about 40,000 years ago, did we enter Europe its cold and its Neanderthals making it far less hospitable while one group of Asians headed farther east over the land bridge that then connected their continent to America. We can also see that just before humans left Africa, about 70,000 years ago, mankind was brought to the brink of extinction when Mount Toba, in Sumatra, erupted, said Wells. It was the most powerful volcanic eruption for two million years and dropped thick ash and killed vegetation across the globe. Our research now shows Homo sapiens numbers dropped alarmingly at this time and we only just hung on as a species. Nevertheless, humanity recovered, evolving new creative and intellectual talents. Since then, waves of men and women have moved round the planet and DNA analysis can detect traces of these movements often with intriguing results. One study, by project scientists Pierre Zalloua and Chris Tyler-Smith, has discovered a genetic marker typical of Europeans in modern Lebanese men. The inference is clear they say: this distinctive Y-chromosome was left behind by 11th-century Crusaders when they invaded Lebanon and then settled in the country. A similar sort of genetic legacy has been detected in regions where Genghis Khan ruled and which has been linked to the many male

descendants he produced. As for Africa, it has the most genetically diverse population of all the continents, as would be expected of humanitys birthplace. And of those living today, the Khoisan people of southern Africa are probably the closest, genetically, to the founding mothers and fathers of humanity, say project scientists. 3. Find a word (or two) in the article that is a synonym of: 1. escape, exit, flight ____________________ (para 2) 2. activated by, set off by ____________________ para 2) 3. affect, result ____________________ (para 2) 4. expatriates, people in exile ____________________ (para 2) 5. scattering, spread ____________________ (para 3) 6. fathered, gave birth to, bred ____________________ (para 3) 7. modifications, variations ____________________ (para 3) 8. appeared, evolved ____________________ (para 4) 9. welcoming, warm, friendly ____________________ (para 5) 10. edge of ____________________ (para 6) 11. remained, stayed alive ____________________ (para 6) 12. clues, remains, evidence ____________________ (para 7) 13. interesting, complicated ____________________ (para 7) 14. assumption, conclusion, deduction ____________________ (para 8)

15. inheritance ____________________ (para 8)

4. Discussion Would you like to trace your genetic ancestry? Why/Why not? What do you know about your ancestry? Have you (or anyone you know) tried to trace your family tree? How far back could you go? Did you find out anything interesting or surprising? 5. Watch videos about the project and discover whats on the Globe of Human History on: https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic Go to www.dnaancestryproject.com or www.dnaheritage.com to find out how you can trace your ancestry. Can you find any other companies that offer these services? How much do the services cost? What else can DNA tests be used for?