Human Family Tree, The

The National Geographic Society research on the Genographic Project is a genetic analysis of the human species origin in Africa and its spread throughout the world. Using samples, the lab results tell a story of the many branchings of the human tree. From the mitochondrial DNA, the researchers found that everyone in the world descends from one women in Africa some 150,000 to 200,000 years ago, while using the Y-chromosome they found we all descend from one man some 70,000 years ago. Mutations created branches through time in both areas and these are used to show the basic migration routes for the people, through their genes.That these branches happened appears to be well researched. However, the researchers give approximate dates for these events and that is an area open to question. Is it really 150,000 or is it 1.5 million years ago for the scientific "Eve"? One issue glossed over is that the genetic evidence is not matching well with the archaeological and human paleontological data. For example, the genetic data showed a date of 15-20,000 years ago for the peopling of the New World and assumes that Clovis people were the first. How then are the dozens of well-dated sites in South America from 30,000+ years going to fit the genetic model. One statement was potentially wrong, when they said that Native Americans were isolated until Columbus. This negates the Viking settlement in Labrador, Canada, as well as possible contact with Chinese. The Eskimo and Aleut who came later to America are also not included.Another issue that needs to be discussed better in this film is that Europe and Asia were well occupied about a million years ago, and that genetic links between Homo erectus fossils in China and modern Asians exist in their shovel-shaped incisors. Similarly, some of the Java Homo erectus specimens show traits still found there. Clearly, those populations today have some ancestors who did not migrate out of Africa some 70,000 years ago. Researchers also are still debating if Neanderthals left their genes in us.Going back to 150,000 years ago and assuming 25 years per generation, each of us had 2 to the 6000th power ancestral lines in our massive genealogy. (Two to the 30th power is a billion!) This film portrays only two of those lines.The film is well worth seeing. However, in many ways it contains the fallacy of extrapolation because it looks only at those two lines. Nevertheless, an important point made repeatedly in the film is that we are all cousins in the human family and that research on the great chain of being is worthwhile. I ordered my kit today from National Geographic.

This is a little dated now, but was very good when it came out some years ago. Well written, easy to follow. I used it as a text for a freshman class that had a component on human migration.

This video will change the way you see "Race" on our planet! My World History students are shocked to discover that race is a socially constructed idea that has no scientific basis. Even more shocking is that all humans on the planet are distantly related to each other. I use this as the main thesis statement for world history class. The misunderstanding of the work race is the single largest cause of wars genocide and human rights violations in world history. It has been used to justify everthing from slavery to colonization and world wars. I can recommend this video enough. If you are a teacher and would like a lesson to go with the video please email me at [email protected] and I will help you out.V/RMr. Chandler ArchibaldWorld History and Geography TeacherArmstrong High School

It was interesting, I mean its no surprise that its started in Africa. The Bible gives so many clues on this and it was written so long ago. Its too bad the guy in the documentary believes evolutional theories which are man made guesses. There were different races in Africa before they left to go east. Its all in the Bible!! Yes, I definetly believe it started in Northern Africa and later some moved to out to go Europe and the middle East. I'm sure they were curious. Maybe there was drought and famine or war that made some move. Anyways blacks, whites arabs, etc were screwing each other before and after they left Africa Why do you think Italians and Greeks are dark skin and have curly hair, because they are mixed with arab and black blood. Why do some dark Northern Africans have pointy noses and thin lips because blacks and arabs have been screwing each other for years and years. Autralian aboriginees have a mix of black and arab blood. Curly hair is a black trait. blacks are the only race without straight hair. When they mix with non blacks, the mixed child has curly hair, but most of the time , it is very loose or wavy and the mixed person's descendents or any race end up with curly hair. But it is no surprise. We are all distant relatives. the more you go back in time the less people there were until there was adam and eve. No people noses and eyes shapes and hair tecture and eye color didnt miraculously change because of the climate.(skin color differences is from the sun)God created different races. The answers are found in the Bible.

This was required viewing for a biology class. I am a graduating baby-boomer college "senior". I am just now taking required Freshman Biology in my last semester to graduate. Couldn't put it off any longer - that's how much I hate biology. This documentary was absolutley AMAZING and oh, so very interesting. I highly HIGHLY recommend it for any and everyone; in fact, I had my sons and their wives come over for a mini-dinner the next day to watch it, that's how fascinated I was by this movie. They thoroughly enjoyed it also. Not your typical boring documentary. This one will definitely hold your attention and peak your curiosity. A MUST SEE.

I had seen "Journey of Man" on PBS several years ago and thought it was very interesting and educational and "Human Family Tree" is a great follow-up to "Journey of Man" and was also very interesting and educational. I have been involved in DNA testing for about last 6 years and just recently did the DNA test for the National Geographic Geno 2.0 project. The "Human Farmily Tree" was very well done and they did a great job with explaining how we humans are all connected and how we are all a part of the same family tree.

I seen this on TV and it was amazing, I purchased it so that my granddaughter could watch it also and she was amazed also, I would recommend this to anyone with children or grandchildren, please be aware that this came from the USA and is regoin coded but plays OK on a PC with Windows Media Player.

Informative documentary. However, it was not appropriate for my purpose. I bought this thinking it may cover some of the fundamentals of evolution, as I was taking a university course in evolution. It does not cover much of the principles underlying evolution, but rather covers ancestry and history of hominid species.

All four generations of our family enjoyed watching this DVD and some of us have gone on to the DNA testing ourselves. The children ages 14 and 10 were as fascinated as the adults. I highly recommend the purchase of The Human Family Tree.

A most interesting presentation and very informative ... a great contribution to anthropology, I think, which will greatly enhance our understanding, origin and development of the human race.

For anyone who wants to know where we come from, who are ancestors and how are we related, this is the perfect DVD. If you are interested in Genealogy and or DNA there isn't a better DVD on the market. If you haven't had your DNA tested, this film might make you do it. It is a really fascinating subject that explains so much.