About
One can reconstruct human evolution using modern genetic data and models based on the mathematical theory of evolution and its four major factors : mutation, natural selection, statistical fluctuations in finite populations (random genetic drift), and migration. Archaeology gives some help on the major dates and events of the process. Chances of studying ancient DNA are very limited but there have been a few successful results. Studying DNA instead of proteins, as was done until a few years ago, and in particular the DNA of mitochondria and of the Y chromosome which are transmitted, respectively, by the maternal line and the paternal line, has greatly simplified the analysis. It is now possible to carry the analysis on individuals, while earlier studies were of necessity based on populations. Also the evolution of ÒcultureÓ (i.e. what we learn from others), in particular that of languages, gives some help and can be greatly enlightened by genetic studies. Even though it is largely based on mechanisms of mutation and transmission quite different from the genetic ones, it has similar patterns..
0:00:00 Slide 1
0:07:09 Slide 2
0:14:18 Slide 3
0:21:27 Slide 4
0:28:36 Slide 5
0:35:45 Slide 6
0:42:53 Slide 7
0:50:02 Slide 8
0:57:11 Slide 9
1:04:20 Slide 10
The talk
Credits and licence
- Institution
- CERN
- Department
- Science and Society
- Taught by
- M Cavalli-Sforza, Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza
- Year
- 1999
- Language
- English
- Subjects
- Physics
- Source
- CERN
- Licence
- CERN, as CERN states it. CERN's terms
- Attribution
- © CERN. CERN provides its audiovisual media free of charge for educational and informational use, credited to CERN; this lecture is shown in CERN's own player.
- Who can watch
- CERN gives no rating. Invisible Network shows it to Tweens profiles and older, judged from what the source says about it. How courses are placed