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The Genographic Project | National Geographic


six billion people around the globe from

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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