HUMAN GENOMIC DIVERSITY AND DISEASE RESEARCH UNIT

RESEARCH FOCUS:

Using DNA studies, Prof. Soodyall's group aims to:

• Elucidate the demographic and evolutionary processes responsible for producing the complex patterns of variation in sub-Saharan and Malagasy populations,
• Demonstrate how knowledge of population history contributes to the understanding of genetic variation associated with disease,
• Shed light on modern human origins, and
• Reconstruct the prehistory of African and Malagasy populations.

Some of the specific questions concerning population history that the group wishes to address through this research are:

• How much genetic diversity is present in sub-Saharan African populations, and what does this tell us about evolution within Africa?
• What are the genetic relationships between indigenous African populations?
• Did the recent "Bantu-expansion" contribute in shaping the gene pool of sub-Saharan African populations?
• Can we trace the genetic trail of the source(s) and route(s) of migration(s) to Madagascar?

LINKS:

Discover Archaeology: http://www.discoveringarchaeology.com
Village Voice: http://www.villagevoice.com
National Research Foundation: http://www.nrf.ac.za


GROUP:

Dr Himla Soodyall
Prof Trefor Jenkins
Dr Almut Nebel
Ms Akashnie Maharaj
Ms Venesa Pillay
Ms Sharmila Manga
Ms Debra Barkhan
Mr Heeran Makkan