12.7 Assignment: Early Human Migrations

Introduction

The fossil and genomic record tell us that our species originated in Africa around 200,000 years ago (These numbers might now go back further). The first 100,000 years were spent in Africa and soon after our species began to expand into different world regions.

What you are doing

Your task will be to explore the complex fossil and genetic history of modern humans as they left Africa for the first time.

For this webquest you will only be able to choose one of the following world regions:

• The Americas (you will be including both North and South)
• Australia
• Europe

All the above world regions have complicated population histories that are the result of a number of populations that have come together to form the present population. What insight do genomic studies of ancient fossils and modern populations give us in reference to the number of founding populations that form your chosen world region?

What you have to do for points

1. All of the assigned world regions are composed of multiple Homo sapiens populations that arrived at different times to the current world region that you are exploring. What do genomic tell us in reference to the number of founding populations of your chosen world region and what does the data say about when the different populations arrived? Make sure you tell me how many different populations form your chosen population. Also, make sure you tell me when the different populations arrived.
2. Make sure you give citations
   

   12.8 Discussion Board: Homo Sapiens

   When we think of modern humans we often think of specific physical features along with cultural and linguistic attributes that define us. There are many things that we were not able to cover in this class that relate to our species but I would like you to share in this discussion board one thing that you thought was interesting to know about us or one thing that you would have wanted to know more about in relation to our species. Feel free to share your thoughts in an open ended but informed way! For your contribution you will receive participation points.