Chapter 17
Tracing Human History and the Future of the Planet
IN THIS CHAPTER
Relating the genetics of individuals to the genetics of groups
Describing genetic diversity
Understanding the genetics of evolution
It’s impossible to overestimate the influence of genetics on our planet. Every living thing depends on DNA for its life, and all living things, including humans, share DNA sequences. The amazing similarities between your DNA and the DNA of other living things suggest that all living things trace their history back to a single source. In a very real sense, all creatures great and small are related somehow.
You can examine the genetic underpinnings of life in all sorts of ways. One powerful method for understanding the patterns hidden in your DNA is to compare the DNA of many individuals as a group. This specialty, called population genetics, is a powerful tool. Geneticists use this tool to study not only human populations but also animal populations to understand how to protect endangered species, for example. By comparing DNA sequences of various species, scientists also infer how natural selection acts to create evolutionary change. In this chapter, you find out how scientists ...
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