Lice And Human Migration

Paleo-anthropologists believe Homo sapiens evolved in Africa 100 - 200 thousand years ago, and eventually moved out of Africa to populate the globe.  But, how can researchers trace the specifics of that human migration?  With support from the National Science Foundation, Florida Museum of Natural History Mammologist David Reed has undertaken a novel approach.  He studies the genetic diversity and evolution of the human parasite that hitched a ride the whole way:  lice.

Provided by the National Science Foundation
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