Modern Humans Originated from Southern Africa

According to an extensive genetic study, published in the second week of March 2011, modern humans may have originated from southern Africa. The study challenged the old concept that people came from the eastern part of the continent. The study has shown that hunter-gatherer populations in the region had the greatest degree of genetic diversity, which is an indicator of longevity. According to the study's co-author Dr Brenna Henn of Stanford University, the study concluded two major points. One is that there is an enormous amount of diversity in the African hunter-gatherer populations. The other main conclusion was that genetic diversity among 27 present-day African populations originated in southern Africa and progressed to northern Africa.

 
The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.