In a study published in Science Advances, postdoctoral research associate Dr Nancy Bird and her co-authors from University College London, used DNA information from people from present-day Africa to shed light on important civilisations that existed before colonialism.
DNA samples were collected from 1510 individuals from Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, and Zimbabwe from 1997 to 2006.
1387 of these samples were genomes showing new autosomal genetic variation data, which were analysed to compare genetic differences and similarities between the populations in the study.
The scientists discovered data from 150 ethnic groups within five countries.
African genome data is underrepresented compared with that from other world regions. As such, genetic diversity in the DNA of populations is probably being missed by scientists. Studying genetic diversity has many potential uses – such as understanding risks to health and developing new treatments for disease.
Dr Bird concluded in her article in the Conversation: 'It's vital that scientists analyse more DNA from genomes of African people. As we do so, it will undoubtedly reveal an intricate picture of the continent's rich past.'
