06-06-2008, 08:12 PM
Madurai family traces its roots 70,000 years back: Bearers of 'M130'
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftn...-yrs-back-.aspx
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Chennai, April 3: A 30-year-old systems administrator hailing from a sleepy village close to Madurai in Tamil Nadu has been identified as one of the direct descendants of the first ever settlers in India, who had migrated from the African coast some 70,000 years ago.
The DNA of Virumandi Andithevar, one of the 700-odd inhabitants of Jothimanickam village, matched the white chromosome marker scientifically labelled 'M130', which is a gene found only among the descendants of the African migrants who had spread across the world tens of thousands of years ago. 'This young man and 13 members of his nine-generation clan carried the same marker in their genes. It means that his ancestors in all probability settled in this village several generations ago,' said Prof. Rm Pitchappan, who led a team of scientists tracking the 'M130' DNA and ended up at Virumandiââ¬â¢s little house.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The Genographic Project will gather all data in collaboration with indigenous and traditional people around the world. The public is invited to join the project by purchasing a Genographic Project public participation kit. The proceeds from the sales go to further field research and the Genographic Legacy Fund, which in turn supports indigenous conservation and revitalisation projects.
Virumandi Andithevar is being presented before the media by the Discovery Channel in Chennai on Friday during the national launch of its serial The Story of India.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Is this serial being shown only in India or available via Discovery in US/UK too?
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftn...-yrs-back-.aspx
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->
Chennai, April 3: A 30-year-old systems administrator hailing from a sleepy village close to Madurai in Tamil Nadu has been identified as one of the direct descendants of the first ever settlers in India, who had migrated from the African coast some 70,000 years ago.
The DNA of Virumandi Andithevar, one of the 700-odd inhabitants of Jothimanickam village, matched the white chromosome marker scientifically labelled 'M130', which is a gene found only among the descendants of the African migrants who had spread across the world tens of thousands of years ago. 'This young man and 13 members of his nine-generation clan carried the same marker in their genes. It means that his ancestors in all probability settled in this village several generations ago,' said Prof. Rm Pitchappan, who led a team of scientists tracking the 'M130' DNA and ended up at Virumandiââ¬â¢s little house.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The Genographic Project will gather all data in collaboration with indigenous and traditional people around the world. The public is invited to join the project by purchasing a Genographic Project public participation kit. The proceeds from the sales go to further field research and the Genographic Legacy Fund, which in turn supports indigenous conservation and revitalisation projects.
Virumandi Andithevar is being presented before the media by the Discovery Channel in Chennai on Friday during the national launch of its serial The Story of India.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Is this serial being shown only in India or available via Discovery in US/UK too?