Thoughts And Trivia

I recently read a thought provoking book - which shook some of my views on the subject of Peoples, Race and Ethnicity. The book is: -
Mapping Human History
Discovering The Past Through Our Genes
By Steve Olson (2002)
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Let me give you a synopsis.
The book traces the differences and similarities between Peoples of various Races and Ethnicity using:

• Frequencies of Genetic Mutations in mitochondria and Y-Chromosome
• Languages
• Physical and Facial Features
• Archeology

Its Findings are:-

• There has been too much back and forth mating between the Peoples that Race and Ethnicity has no Biological basis.
• Differences between the Races are much less than variations within the Race.
• Human migrations from Africa to Middle-East -> to Asia-> to America and Europe has not been smooth and one way. There has been movement back and forth also within the overall direction mentioned above.
• European People developed faster than Peoples in other continents, due to local geographical and environmental conditions - not due to any genetic difference

I learnt that the passed down theory of Aryan coming to India and replacing the less developed locals - is a conjecture to support preconceived ideas. Available facts do not support this theory.
Click to see Maps and Data on Homo Sapien Migrations

Posted by Girish Bhatnagar at Saturday, March 19, 2005