University of Illinois anthropology professor Ripan
Malhi has analyzed DNA samples to try and determine how humans made their way
to the Americas 15,000 years ago. They looked closely at mitochondrial genome
that comes from mothers and found a stronger connection to the ancient past.
The natives of Prince Rupert Island have the same genetic background as their
ancestors. The natives of Northern California were complex hunter-gatherers while
those of Mexico transitioned to agriculture.
Two general theories appear to dominate the American migration theories. One is that people moved across an ice shelf from
Europe and another is that Asianic people used boats to move down the
California coast. No one really knows what happened. Both theories have been
challenged at one time or another based upon artifact finding, carbon dating,
and anthropology studies.
The genetic studies are interesting in that they can
help connect peoples from the Americas to those in other areas. Most
researchers have little evidence that American human life generated from the
southern jungles in South America. However, the genetic studies will further
clear the hazy theories about where natives really came from or whether they were
homegrown.
Mitochondrial DNA is where energy from food is
converted for use in other cells. The Mitochondrial DNA is standalone in the
sense that each cell comes with their own DNA unconnected to other DNA in the
body. This is one of the reasons why such DNA can be traced back through the
mother’s line to ancient people. Scientists are using this DNA to understand
the origin of people’s from around the world and previous studies in Europe
indicate common migration.
