Customer Reviews

Human Family Tree

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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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 long term study of human geneology is very informative, lots of new informatoin regarding human origins and dispersement over time. Follows a number of different study participants, giving their background and opinions on where they think they originated and in the end what their DNA shows their origins to be. Nice graphics to show different migration paths. Explains how all humans can trace back to the same ancestry over hundreds of generations.

The first time I saw this DVD my mind was blown away. Imagine tracing all of us back to one tribe in Africa. The history, migration, reasons for diversity-it is one of the best shows ever. It will certainly change the way you view the world.

This was a fascinating look on not only the great expansion of humankind but, most importantly, how closely linked we all are. I especially liked how they illustrated this at the end, with people positioned in the region of their ancestors, and then going back in time until eventually we all came from one of two groups.

This DVD should be required viewing for all people! This would uncover so much mis-information that people have about their fellow man. After seeing this we might have fewer wars and mis-understandings in the world. We really are all related!

This is a wonderful video for everyone I used it in a high school classroom. Great message for the students, great topic for discussion.

Simply an awesome DVD! This should be watched by all. I also recommend the book "RACE and REALITY" by Guy P. Harrison.

One planet-a single living cellular structure named "human"-now known to be 99.9% the same (DNA)-originating
geographically in one area( Eastern Africa)- culturally/religiously "carefully taught" to be different-Wow!!!

Once we knew the Earth was flat!!!!!

We need to strip away all that impedes an explosion of LOVE.

This DVD presents the Human Family in a manner to open the way" to a new way of thinking" as Einstein put it.

It is foundational in our educational endeavors.

I was very satisfied with the DVD. I plan to use it as a part of a DNA program for a Genealogy Society.

I agree with a previous reviewer who said this should be required viewing for students. However, the movie is a bit lengthy and I think it should be reduced by at least 30 minutes.