Botswana, Hometown of Mankind

The latest genetic research has proven the first human ancestor of maternal lineage lived around Botswana, Africa, 200,000 years ago. The scientific study shows that modern humans (Homo sapiens) have a common ancestor.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Homo Wajakensis fossils are exhibited at the ASOI Exhibition: The Origin of Indonesians at the National Museum, Jakarta, Tuesday (15/10/2019). At the exhibition, a collection of the origins of Indonesians through Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests were displayed.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The latest genetic research has proven the first human ancestor of maternal lineage lived around Botswana, Africa, 200,000 years ago. The scientific study shows that all modern humans (Homo sapiens) have a common ancestor.

Although it is agreed anthropologically and genetically that all Homo sapiens have a common ancestor from Africa, the theory is called Out of Africa -- the exact location of the early ancestors remains a matter of debate. Until the latest research in the journal Nature, on Monday (28/10/2019), gave the answer.

By analyzing the mitochondrial DNA of 1,200 people in Africa and comparing it to the world\'s human gene bank, the research team found the first human home. Anthropologist Vanessa Hayes of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the University of Sydney who led the study said, "Anyone can now have their mitochondrial DNA traced on humans of this first village."

Kompas traced the ancestors from female lineage some time ago. "You are from a female ancestor who could be traced back to her hometown in eastern Africa and lived 150,000 years ago," reads an email from the genetic laboratory in the United States, a month after Kompas sent saliva samples.

Anyone can now have their mitochondrial DNA traced on humans of this first village.

The ancestral route of the female lineage and her stopover until arriving in Indonesia is depicted in detailed graphics. After living in Africa, the first female descendant or just call it "L" crossed the Red Sea some 70,000 years ago. About 65,000 years ago the new environment triggered genetic mutations and since then the genetic motive has become "L3".

The journey continues with the next generation to the Arabian Peninsula 57,000 years ago, arrived in mainland Southeast Asia around 43,000 years ago, and mutated into "F" haplogroup, then became "F1a1a1" haplogroup, and arrived in Indonesia 5,500 years ago or 220 generations.

The geneticist from the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, Herawati Sudoyo, said that if everyone now gets their samples of myocondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) examined, it would have met women who lived in Africa 150,000 and 200,000 years ago.

KOMPAS/DEONISIA ARLINTA

A number of visitors look at information boards at the ASOI Exhibition: The Origin of Indonesians at the National Museum, Jakarta, on Tuesday (15/10/2019).

Time capsule

According to Hayes, the DNA of mitochondria (mtDNA), which is the genetic material in each organism, acts like a time capsule that stores information about our female ancestors. Unlike the nuclear DNA genetic system that follows the Mendel law, mtDNA is inherited maternally (maternal lineage). A mother bequeaths her mtDNA to all of her offspring and the daughter passes on to the next generation.

All modern humans inherit the mtDNA gene from a large "L" group. The "L" branch is divided into two subgroups, namely "L1" to "L6" and "L0". By comparing the L branches, it is known that everyone who lives today is a descendant of the "L0" woman who lived in modern Botswana 200,000 years ago. This ancestral homeland is called the Makgadikgadi-Okavango wetland-paleo, near the modern Okavango Delta.

"Our findings improve the earliest human evolution tree," said Eva Chan of the Garage Institute of Medical Research who led the phylogenetic analysis.

Our findings improve the earliest human evolution tree.

Environmental changes

Geologist from Rhodes University, Andy Moore, who investigated ancient landscapes, explained, Makgadikgadi was previously the largest lake system in Africa. "Before the appearance of modern humans, the river dried up because of the shifting of the plates. It creates vast wetlands so that it becomes the most productive ecosystem life support," he said. Ancient wetland ecosystems provide a stable economic environment for modern humans\' first ancestors to develop for 70,000 years. As the climate changes, our ancestors spread in two waves: one group northeast northeast 130,000 years ago and the other went on a second migration south west 110,000 years ago.

The third population remained in the original village in Botswana until now, whose mtDNA was found by Hayes and the team and grouped as "L0".

No matter how different physical features are, humans have the same root

"Unlike the northeast-bound migrants, the southwest-bound explorers are more developed and population is growing steadily," Hayes said. The group heading westward is likely to explore various parts of the world, including Indonesia.

Various studies have shown that Africa was once an oasis for our grandmothers. No matter how different physical features are, humans have the same root.