SANA’A, March 4, 2009 — Contrary to the common belief that the origin of man is Africa, new scientific research suggests that Yemen could be the original homeland of all mankind.
In an attempt to prove this theory, Yemeni scientists from the University of Sana’a collaborated with scientists from the University of Florida to collect blood and saliva samples from populations throughout Yemen for seven years, starting in the spring of 2000. These blood and saliva samples were used to retrace the footsteps of modern humans out of Africa.
The study in Yemen is part of a comprehensive research project that is being carried out throughout the world. The aim of the research is to answer the very old question: Where did humans come from?
Until recently, scientists thought that the original homeland of mankind was in the northeast of Africa. But general scientific opinion changed after the discovery of the genetic map of the human being in 2001. Many applications came out of that discovery, and mapping the history of DNA to track the transmission of human genetic properties is one of them.
The two most prominent scientists who worked on this project were Dr. Connie Mulligan, an anthropologist at the University of Florida, and Dr. Ali Al-Meeri, vice dean of student affairs and a professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sana’a.
Dr. Al-Meeri hosted the American team led by Dr. Mulligan. Both conducted field work in several Yemeni cities. Dr. Al-Meeri stated in an interview that the American team was impressed by Yemen’s hospitality. Yemen opened its doors for them to do their experiments when other Arabian countries refused to give them access.
“We want to reconstruct the first migration of human beings out of Africa,” explained Dr. Al-Meeri. “The general idea was that humans might have migrated from the southern tip of the Red Sea or toward the northern tip of the Red Sea. However, lately this theory has lost credibility and has been replaced by a new theory that suggests that humans migrated to several places in the world through Bab Al- Mandab.” Bab Al-Mandab is a strait located across the Red Sea in-between Djibouti and Yemen.
Yemeni scientists are currently working with those from the University of Florida and the University of Cambridge in continuing the research. The data collected in Yemen was analyzed and compared to similar data obtained from throughout the world.
As a result of this research, Dr. Al-Meeri believes that the first modern human may have existed in Yemen. He came to this conclusion by comparing the genes in samples collected from Africans with genes from the rest of the world. The results showed little similarity, especially between the African and Arabian genes. There is no evidence of gradual changes or evolution in the gene structure. Similarities between African and Arabian genes are only between 10 to 30 percent. This was determined upon the completion of several experiments which had been done on 550 genetic samples collected throughout Yemen.
“This is the main finding of ongoing research,” Dr. Al-Meeri declared. “If these findings are proven though larger experiments in the future, they will have a great impact on our tourism. People from all around the world will be interested in visiting their original homeland.”
The findings have already started to generate interest from abroad. The National Science Foundation provided a fully equipped lab to Yemen for genetic experiments and research. This lab is led by Dr. Al-Meeri who assigned Masters degree students to work with him. Previously, the research was conducted by Dr. Al-Meeri personally along with foreign scientists. Dr. Al-Meeri decided to call concerned authorities to help with several projects regarding the genetic research in order to continue the procedures of the search inside Yemen.
Dr. Al-Meeri would like to see the university supplied with a fully-equipped lab because to enable the important research that this project necessitates. He would also like to be provided with a site in order to conduct experimental genetic work. Last but not least, Dr. Meeri would like to see qualified individuals hired to teach and conduct research in the scientific field of genetic engineering. Most of Dr. Meeri’s colleagues share his desire to see the Yemeni government fulfill these requests.
Source: Yemen Times
 

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