Science Nation: Lice and Human Migration

Map of the world with central and southern Africa highlighted. Arrows indicate movement from there to all areas of the globe. Caption: after the first homo sapiens left Africa 100,00 years ago.

Paleo-anthropologists believe Homo sapiens evolved in Africa 100-200 thousand years ago, and eventually moved out of Africa to populate the globe. But, how can researchers trace the specifics of that human migration? With support from the National Science Foundation, Florida Museum of Natural History Mammologist David Reed has undertaken a novel approach. He studies the genetic diversity and evolution of the human parasite that hitched a ride the whole way: lice.

(Source: DCMP)

Metadata

Keywords:
biology, evolution

Files 1

  • Science Nation: Lice and Human Migration

    Type:
    Video
    Format:
    Streaming
    Accommodations:
    English Audio Descriptions - Visual, English Captions - Auditory
    Languages:
    English
    License:
    OER
    Author:
    National Science Foundation
    Length:
    3 minutes