Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia have undertaken the largest ever genetic study of African populations. The researchers collected and analysed genetic information from 3000 people from 121 populations throughout the African continent, bring them into contact with diverse people including those such as the Pygmies of Cameroon and hunter gatherers of Tanzania. This research project posed special challenges as the scientists involved had to travel to difficult and potentially dangerous parts of Africa and were required to use very flexible resources such as make-shift labs run off car batteries. Though this represents only a small selection (there are over 2000 different populations across Africa) the research has implied that “no single African population is representative of the 
diversity of the continent”. The research indicated that genetic differences paralleled differences in culture, language and lifestyle.
It also lead to the theory that the San bushmen’s home territory may be the initial starting point from where modern humans spread throughout the world.
Original article: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/43377/title/Expansive_genetic_diversity_in_Africa_revealed
Other Links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8027269.stm
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20090501_Genome_study_gets_insights_in_Africa.html
