Dr Marina Ascunce, a research molecular biologist at the US Department of Agriculture has analysed and compared the DNA of 274 head lice collected with the help of head lice researchers from all over the world.
Her analysis is part of a new study published in Plos One.
'Lice have been with us since the origin of humankind; for millions of years they have evolved with us,' said Dr Ascunce.
An article in CNN details the analysis and how it can be used to further understand how humankind evolved and spread around the globe.
