
six billion people around the globe from every imaginable background with
every imaginable background with
every imaginable background with incredible diversity yet despite these
incredible diversity yet despite these
incredible diversity yet despite these differences were more similar and more
differences were more similar and more
differences were more similar and more connected than you might think
connected than you might think
connected than you might think who were our ancestors where do we come
who were our ancestors where do we come
who were our ancestors where do we come from and how did we get here in April
from and how did we get here in April
from and how did we get here in April 2005 National Geographic and IBM teamed
2005 National Geographic and IBM teamed
2005 National Geographic and IBM teamed up to find out I wanted to draw people
up to find out I wanted to draw people
up to find out I wanted to draw people together to make people realize that
together to make people realize that
together to make people realize that we’re all part of an extended family and
we’re all part of an extended family and
we’re all part of an extended family and that our DNA connects all of us into a
that our DNA connects all of us into a
that our DNA connects all of us into a very tight-knit group with support from
very tight-knit group with support from
very tight-knit group with support from the wait Family Foundation we launched
the wait Family Foundation we launched
the wait Family Foundation we launched the Genographic project a massive
the Genographic project a massive
the Genographic project a massive five-year effort to trace our DNA back
five-year effort to trace our DNA back
five-year effort to trace our DNA back tens of thousands of years to our
tens of thousands of years to our
tens of thousands of years to our earliest ancestors in East Africa we’re
earliest ancestors in East Africa we’re
earliest ancestors in East Africa we’re collaborating with indigenous tribes
collaborating with indigenous tribes
collaborating with indigenous tribes plus hundreds of thousands of other
plus hundreds of thousands of other
plus hundreds of thousands of other people around the world gathering DNA
people around the world gathering DNA
people around the world gathering DNA samples to map our human history we need
samples to map our human history we need
samples to map our human history we need to create the world’s largest database
to create the world’s largest database
to create the world’s largest database of genotypes but you’re talking about
of genotypes but you’re talking about
of genotypes but you’re talking about sampling hundreds of thousands of people
sampling hundreds of thousands of people
sampling hundreds of thousands of people around the world and generating all this
around the world and generating all this
around the world and generating all this genetic information we need to find a
genetic information we need to find a
genetic information we need to find a partner it does take a great deal of
partner it does take a great deal of
partner it does take a great deal of innovation to pull off this mapping of
innovation to pull off this mapping of
innovation to pull off this mapping of the journey you know of humankind we
the journey you know of humankind we
the journey you know of humankind we provide the technology infrastructure to
provide the technology infrastructure to
provide the technology infrastructure to gather the data and bring it in there’s
gather the data and bring it in there’s
gather the data and bring it in there’s no better place to prove how we’re all
no better place to prove how we’re all
no better place to prove how we’re all connected than here at Grand Central the
connected than here at Grand Central the
connected than here at Grand Central the crossroads of New York City and a
crossroads of New York City and a
crossroads of New York City and a microcosm of diversity
[Music]
[Music] my name is Spencer Wells with National
my name is Spencer Wells with National
my name is Spencer Wells with National Geographic I direct a project for them
Geographic I direct a project for them
Geographic I direct a project for them called the Genographic project and we’re
called the Genographic project and we’re
called the Genographic project and we’re using DNA as a tool to study how people
using DNA as a tool to study how people
using DNA as a tool to study how people all over the world are related to each
all over the world are related to each
all over the world are related to each other would you be interested in maybe
other would you be interested in maybe
other would you be interested in maybe giving us a sample it can be a part of
giving us a sample it can be a part of
giving us a sample it can be a part of it yes that’s contributed by DNA
it yes that’s contributed by DNA
it yes that’s contributed by DNA absolutely maybe getting yourself tested
absolutely maybe getting yourself tested
absolutely maybe getting yourself tested 100% what do you think you might find
100% what do you think you might find
100% what do you think you might find out what is your family you know I have
out what is your family you know I have
out what is your family you know I have another question my last name is not
another question my last name is not
another question my last name is not common in the country where I was born
common in the country where I was born
common in the country where I was born we have a stick Indian an hour because I
we have a stick Indian an hour because I
we have a stick Indian an hour because I wrote my basic heritage is Mexican
wrote my basic heritage is Mexican
wrote my basic heritage is Mexican partly again but we traced it back to
partly again but we traced it back to
partly again but we traced it back to Spain Massenet ting
Spain Massenet ting
Spain Massenet ting so you’d be interested in maybe getting
so you’d be interested in maybe getting
so you’d be interested in maybe getting yourself tested and seeing all the way
yourself tested and seeing all the way
yourself tested and seeing all the way back to those ancestors and maybe even
back to those ancestors and maybe even
back to those ancestors and maybe even before sure as long as it doesn’t hurt
before sure as long as it doesn’t hurt
before sure as long as it doesn’t hurt it doesn’t hurt at all very simple you
it doesn’t hurt at all very simple you
it doesn’t hurt at all very simple you swab the inside of your cheek take a few
swab the inside of your cheek take a few
swab the inside of your cheek take a few cells send them up to the lab then you
cells send them up to the lab then you
cells send them up to the lab then you go onto a website totally anonymously to
go onto a website totally anonymously to
go onto a website totally anonymously to get the results back a few weeks later
get the results back a few weeks later
get the results back a few weeks later sounds good
sounds good
sounds good well let’s get you started suave don’t
well let’s get you started suave don’t
well let’s get you started suave don’t look at any of my fillings present yet
look at any of my fillings present yet
look at any of my fillings present yet up and down perfect then you do a second
up and down perfect then you do a second
up and down perfect then you do a second one just to make sure we have enough of
one just to make sure we have enough of
one just to make sure we have enough of your DNA the first thing that comes out
your DNA the first thing that comes out
your DNA the first thing that comes out of the research is how closely related
of the research is how closely related
of the research is how closely related we all are so you know we only started
we all are so you know we only started
we all are so you know we only started to separate about 2,000 generations ago
to separate about 2,000 generations ago
to separate about 2,000 generations ago which is like that a geological sense
which is like that a geological sense
which is like that a geological sense what do you know about your family
what do you know about your family
what do you know about your family history I know a lot of my relatives
history I know a lot of my relatives
history I know a lot of my relatives some of them look as you do then I have
some of them look as you do then I have
some of them look as you do then I have like for example my mother’s father was
like for example my mother’s father was
like for example my mother’s father was very dark
very dark
very dark we all started up in Africa
we all started up in Africa
we all started up in Africa years ago so you are african i’m african
years ago so you are african i’m african
years ago so you are african i’m african under the skin another girl I see we’re
under the skin another girl I see we’re
under the skin another girl I see we’re not late it we could be related how do
not late it we could be related how do
not late it we could be related how do you feel about that Oh fantastic I can’t
you feel about that Oh fantastic I can’t
you feel about that Oh fantastic I can’t wait for my Christmas present in just a
wait for my Christmas present in just a
wait for my Christmas present in just a few weeks Cecile JW Frank and Dee Dee
few weeks Cecile JW Frank and Dee Dee
few weeks Cecile JW Frank and Dee Dee will get the results of their DNA tests
will get the results of their DNA tests
will get the results of their DNA tests and discover the mysteries of their past
and discover the mysteries of their past
and discover the mysteries of their past so far the Genographic project has
so far the Genographic project has
so far the Genographic project has collected over 200 thousand samples and
collected over 200 thousand samples and
collected over 200 thousand samples and IBM’s computational biology group has
IBM’s computational biology group has
IBM’s computational biology group has been helping us analyze the results this
been helping us analyze the results this
been helping us analyze the results this is our first chance in the history of
is our first chance in the history of
is our first chance in the history of human civilization to look within and
human civilization to look within and
human civilization to look within and learn something that actually was not
learn something that actually was not
learn something that actually was not knowable before unlocking those secrets
knowable before unlocking those secrets
knowable before unlocking those secrets helps us understand how we’re all
helps us understand how we’re all
helps us understand how we’re all connected like our four participants
connected like our four participants
connected like our four participants from Grand Central who are about to
from Grand Central who are about to
from Grand Central who are about to discover the stories of their distant
discover the stories of their distant
discover the stories of their distant past
past
past dee dee lives near Minneapolis where
dee dee lives near Minneapolis where
dee dee lives near Minneapolis where she’s been tending bar for 26 years
she’s been tending bar for 26 years
she’s been tending bar for 26 years she’s definitely a people person there
she’s definitely a people person there
she’s definitely a people person there you go honey are you ready to order I’m
you go honey are you ready to order I’m
you go honey are you ready to order I’m looking forward to seeing her again well
looking forward to seeing her again well
looking forward to seeing her again well hi Spencer the scientist 3 National
hi Spencer the scientist 3 National
hi Spencer the scientist 3 National Geographic hey DeeDee go see a great
Geographic hey DeeDee go see a great
Geographic hey DeeDee go see a great kisser you know you start off in Africa
kisser you know you start off in Africa
kisser you know you start off in Africa all those years ago just like everybody
all those years ago just like everybody
all those years ago just like everybody else all over the world and around
else all over the world and around
else all over the world and around 45,000 years ago after living in Africa
45,000 years ago after living in Africa
45,000 years ago after living in Africa for a very little group of your
for a very little group of your
for a very little group of your ancestors left Africa and moved up into
ancestors left Africa and moved up into
ancestors left Africa and moved up into the Middle East
the Middle East
the Middle East 40,000 years ago you have recently come
40,000 years ago you have recently come
40,000 years ago you have recently come out of Africa suddenly you’re living in
out of Africa suddenly you’re living in
out of Africa suddenly you’re living in this icy wasteland with things like that
this icy wasteland with things like that
this icy wasteland with things like that walking around and you’ve got to figure
walking around and you’ve got to figure
walking around and you’ve got to figure out a way to kill them to make a living
out a way to kill them to make a living
out a way to kill them to make a living and survive hmm what would you have done
and survive hmm what would you have done
and survive hmm what would you have done well I would have killed him no I would
well I would have killed him no I would
well I would have killed him no I would have found a guy to do it for me Joe
have found a guy to do it for me Joe
have found a guy to do it for me Joe yeah
in Southern California
in Southern California Frank is retiring soon and looking
Frank is retiring soon and looking
Frank is retiring soon and looking forward to a life on the golf course he
forward to a life on the golf course he
forward to a life on the golf course he discovers that his ancient relatives
discovers that his ancient relatives
discovers that his ancient relatives crossed the Bering Strait during the
crossed the Bering Strait during the
crossed the Bering Strait during the last ice age to become the first humans
last ice age to become the first humans
last ice age to become the first humans to settle in the Americas his Aztec
to settle in the Americas his Aztec
to settle in the Americas his Aztec blood might be for real it’s quite
blood might be for real it’s quite
blood might be for real it’s quite interesting up to the last 15 to 20
interesting up to the last 15 to 20
interesting up to the last 15 to 20 thousand years our ancestors were
thousand years our ancestors were
thousand years our ancestors were extremely adaptable who survived by
extremely adaptable who survived by
extremely adaptable who survived by hunting large mammals using
hunting large mammals using
hunting large mammals using sophisticated weapons and small stone
sophisticated weapons and small stone
sophisticated weapons and small stone blades and it kind of makes me
blades and it kind of makes me
blades and it kind of makes me understand why I feel that I’m such a
understand why I feel that I’m such a
understand why I feel that I’m such a survivor because I have AI can create
survivor because I have AI can create
survivor because I have AI can create you know things out of nothing I’ve
you know things out of nothing I’ve
you know things out of nothing I’ve always been that way we are ancient
always been that way we are ancient
always been that way we are ancient ancient ancient people that that’s that
ancient ancient people that that’s that
ancient ancient people that that’s that to me is fabulous Cecille Nepal’s
to me is fabulous Cecille Nepal’s
to me is fabulous Cecille Nepal’s results revealed that her ancestors were
results revealed that her ancestors were
results revealed that her ancestors were among the first humans to ever settle in
among the first humans to ever settle in
among the first humans to ever settle in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia now cecile lives and works in new york
now cecile lives and works in new york
now cecile lives and works in new york city but she still feels connected to
city but she still feels connected to
city but she still feels connected to her philippine roots if there is
her philippine roots if there is
her philippine roots if there is something that we still have that would
something that we still have that would
something that we still have that would carry on and it’s something to be proud
carry on and it’s something to be proud
carry on and it’s something to be proud about new york city cop JW lives in
about new york city cop JW lives in
about new york city cop JW lives in brooklyn with his wife and son his DNA
brooklyn with his wife and son his DNA
brooklyn with his wife and son his DNA results confirm his Puerto Rican Spanish
results confirm his Puerto Rican Spanish
results confirm his Puerto Rican Spanish and ancient African heritage but that
and ancient African heritage but that
and ancient African heritage but that isn’t all what was surprising was that
isn’t all what was surprising was that
isn’t all what was surprising was that we were the actual first humans to ever
we were the actual first humans to ever
we were the actual first humans to ever plant seeds and from that we generated
plant seeds and from that we generated
plant seeds and from that we generated this huge cultivation of crops and and
this huge cultivation of crops and and
this huge cultivation of crops and and we pretty much changed the face of
we pretty much changed the face of
we pretty much changed the face of against mankind if you would coming from
against mankind if you would coming from
against mankind if you would coming from grandparents who were farms themselves I
grandparents who were farms themselves I
grandparents who were farms themselves I kind of see the relation there so pretty
kind of see the relation there so pretty
kind of see the relation there so pretty interesting everybody that we met at
interesting everybody that we met at
interesting everybody that we met at Grand Central that day ultimately traces
Grand Central that day ultimately traces
Grand Central that day ultimately traces back to an ancestor in in Africa I feel
back to an ancestor in in Africa I feel
back to an ancestor in in Africa I feel connected because we all have one common
connected because we all have one common
connected because we all have one common place of origin East Africa
place of origin East Africa
place of origin East Africa regardless of what our exteriors look
regardless of what our exteriors look
regardless of what our exteriors look like regardless of how our accents may
like regardless of how our accents may
like regardless of how our accents may differ our customs or holidays whatever
differ our customs or holidays whatever
differ our customs or holidays whatever the case may be it all started here and
the case may be it all started here and
the case may be it all started here and we all have that connection I think the
we all have that connection I think the
we all have that connection I think the ultimate goal for this project is to
ultimate goal for this project is to
ultimate goal for this project is to literally bring us all a little bit
literally bring us all a little bit
literally bring us all a little bit closer together the cool thing that
closer together the cool thing that
closer together the cool thing that comes out of this research is obviously
comes out of this research is obviously
comes out of this research is obviously that we’re all connected to each other
that we’re all connected to each other
that we’re all connected to each other and that we scattered to the wind if you
and that we scattered to the wind if you
and that we scattered to the wind if you will to populate the world over the last
will to populate the world over the last
will to populate the world over the last sixty thousand years sponsored by
sixty thousand years sponsored by
sixty thousand years sponsored by National Geographic mission programs
National Geographic mission programs
National Geographic mission programs taking science and exploration into the
taking science and exploration into the
taking science and exploration into the new millennium
”
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