DNA Mapping Africa Through Genetics | Dr. Sarah Tishkoff Study

DNA Mapping Africa Through Genetics

This article is part of our African History Hub — exploring how genetics and anthropology uncover Africa’s ancient legacy.

2025 Update: Since the original study of 121 African populations, whole-genome sequencing across Africa has expanded. New data confirm Africa’s unmatched genetic diversity and reveal even deeper, older lineages across multiple regions (East, South, Central). Findings from consortia such as H3Africa and new genome projects strengthen the Out-of-Africa model while refining timelines, structure, and local adaptations relevant to health.

Dr. Sarah Tishkoff’s Study of 121 African Populations

Dr. Sarah Tishkoff is a professor of Genetics and Biology at the University of Pennsylvania studying Africa's genetics.

There is an extensive amount of ethnic diversity in Africa and genetic evidence continues to point to East Africa as a key cradle of humanity. In 1924 the Taung Child—a fossilized skull of a young child who lived about 2.8 million years ago in Taung, South Africa—was discovered.

Lucy, at 3.2 million years old, was unearthed in 1974 in the Afar region of Ethiopia. In 1987, three scientists announced in Nature that they had found a common maternal ancestor—“African Eve,” a woman who lived ≈150,000 years ago.

The theory holds that all people today share maternal ancestry traced to Africa (the “mitochondrial Eve” lineage), alongside many other deep branches within Africa. In 2008 another species of Australopithecus sediba was discovered in South Africa; it lived about 2 million years ago.

Since 2001 Dr. Tishkoff has studied observable characteristics of ethnically diverse Africans — shape, stature, color, and behavior — that result from the interaction of genetic makeup and environment.

Her studies reveal African history and how genetic variation explains differing susceptibility to disease. Her diversity research also sheds light on modern-day diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Africa has a high prevalence of several infectious diseases including HIV, malaria, and TB, causing millions of deaths per year. DNA samples from ≈9,000 Africans with distinct diets—hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, farmers—were collected. Tishkoff’s team studied 121 African, 4 African American, and 60 non-African populations.

Since 2020, African-led genomics has accelerated, linking local adaptations to health (e.g., immunity, metabolism, heat stress). This work underpins equitable precision medicine and better risk models for African-ancestry populations.

Oldest DNA Lineages and the Origins of Humanity

The Khoisan people of Southern Africa were once thought to possess the oldest DNA lineages, but those of the Sandawe of central Tanzania are older—suggesting southern Khoisan originated in East Africa. Modern humans arose ≈200,000 years ago and spread worldwide ≈100,000 years ago. New research shows deep lineages in East, Southern and Central Africa, a complex multi-region story within Africa.

With ≈1.3 billion people, Africa’s limitless genetic diversity reveals a shared ancestry for all humans — one continent with many branches.

Learn More About African Genetics and History

Together we build awareness that boosts harmony, education, and success. Explore more thought-provoking articles about genetic diversity and origins:

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