News Humans

Decoding diversity in Bushmen

Genetic researchers find a broad slice of humanity in one corner of Africa

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

An archbishop and four Bushmen walk into a lab. What emerges is no joke, but a more complete picture of human genetic diversity than ever seen before.

OUT OF AFRICA Researchers have sequenced the genetic blueprints of five southern Africans — four Bushmen hunters, !Aî, G/aq’o, !Gubi and D#kgao (clockwise from lower left corner), as well as that of one Bantu representative, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (lower right corner).