A current project by the National Genographic Society is attempting to map and study the patterns of migration related to humans through collecting and analyzing DNA from different populations. The National Genographic Project, now in phase 2.0 Next Generation continues to focus primarily on studying different types of DNA from the human populous. With over one hundred forty countries involved as of 2018 and one million participants, the study has become well known and rather popular over the last decade.
Created by Spencer Wells in 2005 whom served as the original director until 2015, the project is a non-profit partnership between the society and the Waitt Foundation. As part of an associated study, researchers are obtaining DNA tests from different cultures and populations around the world. During the beginning stages, researchers focused primarily on indigenous populations. Now, the organization houses researchers in different centers in different parts of the world.
In Fall 2012, the society announced a new genotyping array which has been dedicated to genetic anthropology known as GenoChip. The array is designed specifically for anthropological testing and includes mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, X-chromosome DNA, and SNPs from autosomal DNA. The new chip's design was a collaboration between Illumina, Family Tree DNA, Eran Elhaik of John Hopkins and Wells of National Geographic.
In 2015, another new chip was introduced through a joint effort of Vilar, the current project director, Family Tree DNA and Genographic Lead Scientists. An Admixture was also developed by Wells and Elhaik which works to classify individuals based on genomic ancestry from nine regions of the world. The nine regions being Northeast Asian, Mediterranean, Northern European, Sub-Saharan African and Native American.
The society began using cutting edge Helix DNA sequencing for Geno 2.0 Next Generation, the current ongoing phase of the project. Unlike earlier phases, Geno 2.0 Next Generation analyzes populations based on modern day demographics using 18 or 22 regional populations. By using a collection kit for DNA samples, Helix acquires saliva samples from participants which is later analyzed for genomic markers which offer unprecedented insight into an individual's genetic origins. After which, the data is uploaded to the DNA database.
Volunteers have been integral in participating by providing samples of DNA along with participating in citizen based scientific projects. The society actually now sells self-testing kits to members of the public which wish to become citizen scientists by providing DNA. In fact, such participation has always been advised and encouraged by different genealogical organizations which promote and report benefits from DNA based and other scientific research.
The society has been using the latest technology available since the inception of the project in 2015. In doing so, researchers are hopeful that the knowledge base related to the connection of different cultures and populations and the human story can be expanded over time. As a result, the researchers are also hopeful that the process will help in discovering new information about different human populations.
While the project has seen a lot of success, there has also been a great deal of criticism. For example, the Indigenous People's Council on Biocolonialism or IPCB provided a press release which criticized the project due to the connection to a number of controversial issues. In one case, tribes suggested that DNA testing might show that some tribes were not indigenous to North America and recommended tribal members avoid participating. Whereas, indigenous populations also began boycotting the project as well as corporations involved such as Gateway and IBM.
Created by Spencer Wells in 2005 whom served as the original director until 2015, the project is a non-profit partnership between the society and the Waitt Foundation. As part of an associated study, researchers are obtaining DNA tests from different cultures and populations around the world. During the beginning stages, researchers focused primarily on indigenous populations. Now, the organization houses researchers in different centers in different parts of the world.
In Fall 2012, the society announced a new genotyping array which has been dedicated to genetic anthropology known as GenoChip. The array is designed specifically for anthropological testing and includes mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, X-chromosome DNA, and SNPs from autosomal DNA. The new chip's design was a collaboration between Illumina, Family Tree DNA, Eran Elhaik of John Hopkins and Wells of National Geographic.
In 2015, another new chip was introduced through a joint effort of Vilar, the current project director, Family Tree DNA and Genographic Lead Scientists. An Admixture was also developed by Wells and Elhaik which works to classify individuals based on genomic ancestry from nine regions of the world. The nine regions being Northeast Asian, Mediterranean, Northern European, Sub-Saharan African and Native American.
The society began using cutting edge Helix DNA sequencing for Geno 2.0 Next Generation, the current ongoing phase of the project. Unlike earlier phases, Geno 2.0 Next Generation analyzes populations based on modern day demographics using 18 or 22 regional populations. By using a collection kit for DNA samples, Helix acquires saliva samples from participants which is later analyzed for genomic markers which offer unprecedented insight into an individual's genetic origins. After which, the data is uploaded to the DNA database.
Volunteers have been integral in participating by providing samples of DNA along with participating in citizen based scientific projects. The society actually now sells self-testing kits to members of the public which wish to become citizen scientists by providing DNA. In fact, such participation has always been advised and encouraged by different genealogical organizations which promote and report benefits from DNA based and other scientific research.
The society has been using the latest technology available since the inception of the project in 2015. In doing so, researchers are hopeful that the knowledge base related to the connection of different cultures and populations and the human story can be expanded over time. As a result, the researchers are also hopeful that the process will help in discovering new information about different human populations.
While the project has seen a lot of success, there has also been a great deal of criticism. For example, the Indigenous People's Council on Biocolonialism or IPCB provided a press release which criticized the project due to the connection to a number of controversial issues. In one case, tribes suggested that DNA testing might show that some tribes were not indigenous to North America and recommended tribal members avoid participating. Whereas, indigenous populations also began boycotting the project as well as corporations involved such as Gateway and IBM.
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