The Genographic Project: Following Our Genetc Footsteps

To help us learn about our ancestry and how they migrated, National Geographic has created the Genographic project. The Genographic Project is a non-profit and non-medical five-year-long anthropology study, led by Spencer Wells, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, and a crew of renowned international scientists and IBM researchers. The program collects and analyzes DNA samples and charts human migration routes. Collaborating with traditional and indigenous peoples around the world, its main goal is to "understand our human genetic roots."

As you may know, all of our ancestors came from Africa. About 60,000 years ago, groups of Africans left their homeland. From there, they crossed land bridges and traveled to foreign lands.

These DNA studies are derived from Charles Darwin's On Origin of the Species, explaining that all humans are traced from common ancestors. The Genographic Project is going even into more depth.

For US$100, you can find out about your own family's ancestry with a self-testing kit that includes a buccal swab and it is analyzed on an Internet database. More than 300,000 have already purchased theirs.

Sources:
The Genographic Project, Wikipedia
by Brigette W.

A Game for Designing RNA

Student: Zach

Finish your assignment from last week first. Next, move on to this online game for learning about RNA. This will not be an easy assignment, and you will need to both read the article and experiment with the game. Also, Ms. Moorhead will need to help you log into the game.

Within the time allotted for The Hillwood Herald, you might not entirely figure out the game, but you are still responsible for writing a post that explains the people, schools, and science behind the game. Read the About page about the game. What is RNA? Why is it important? What do RNAs do? How does playing this online game help scientists?

Remember to answer the five W's of a good news story and to include links, labels, and images to support your story.