Genographic Project Term Paper

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Genographic Project might be called a kind of exploratory 'mapping' project. Much like explorers in the ancient world attempted to map the globe; the project's explorers are trying to map a kind of topography of the human condition. Rather than create a map of the physical universe, the Genographic Project seeks to create a map of the history of the human species as told by its migration patterns, as recorded in human DNA ("The Genographic Project," National Geographic, 2005). "The Genographic Project aims to collect and analyze DNA samples from over 100,000 indigenous and traditional people, making it the world's largest survey of its kind in the field of anthropological genetics, driven by an ethical framework and locally accountable review boards and protocols. The resulting data, we hope, will map world migratory patterns dating back some 150,000 years and will fill in the huge gaps in our knowledge of humankind's migratory history" ("FAQ," National Geographic, 2005).

Its sponsors

The five-year long Genographic Project is sponsored by National Geographic and IBM, along with geneticist Stanley Wells ("About the Project," National Geographic, 2005). Its sponsors, the official website of the project states are also 'you,' namely ordinary people who voluntarily purchase a Genographic Project Public Participation Kit and send a cheek-swab sample of their DNA ("FAQ," National Geographic, 2005).

Its process

The processes used in data collection by the project would not have been possible ten short years ago. The project uses the most sophisticated laboratory and computer analysis of DNA available. The DNA is voluntarily contributed by hundreds of thousands of people from around the world through the project's methods of solicitation ("The Genographic Project," National Geographic, 2005). The DNA has been donated by "indigenous and traditional populations and the general public -- to reveal man's migratory history and to better understand the connections and differences that make up humankind" ("FAQ," National Geographic, 2005).

Its mission and goals The project is attempting to find out answers to such questions as 'how did we, each of us, end up where we are, on earth, as opposed to where our distant ancestors live?' It also attempts to explore why the human race is so physically diverse, namely, "why do we appear in such a wide array of different colors and features" ("About the Project," National Geographic, 2005).

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Thus project hopes to better understand both human migration and the evolution of diversity within the human species.

Its findings to date

Thus far, by following the generations back from the DNA donations, the project concludes that all of us come from the same ancestors in Africa, although from this original, common origin the human genetic tree has branched out considerably in terms of its geography and the diversity of the species ("About the Project," National Geographic, 2005).

A discussion of the "pros" or possible beneficial outcomes of this project

This sense of commonality and collapsing of racial differences could be used to promote tolerance. If we all come from one ancestor, notions of racial division may seem less important, after the project releases its results. Also, the project, unlike previous studies of racial migration, is multinational in its composition and is subject to approval from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Pennsylvania Office of Regulatory Affairs so it will act "in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards necessary for research involving human participants" ("FAQ," National Geographic, 2005). It is defined by collaboration and voluntary participation. It also does not have a specific, pre-existing thesis, like some questionable projects in the past that have attempted to prove the racial superiority of one group or another.

Cons" or possible negative outcomes, methodological/theoretical/social problems with this project

On the other hand, the fact that we are all genetically so similar under the skin could cause some people to use this as….....

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