The Genographic Project is a ten-year old anthropological study that uses DNA voluntarily contributed by hundreds of thousands of people to answer the oldest questions we have about ourselves: Who are we and where did we come from? In doing so, the project has created the world's largest survey of DNA samples to map how humankind populated the planet. Today, this database serve as an invaluable scientific resource for the research community and may ultimately underscore how closely related we are to one another as part of the extended human family. The Genographic Project uses sophisticated computer analysis of DNA voluntarily contributed by people—including indigenous and traditional populations and the general public—to reveal our migratory history and to better understand the connections and differences that make up humankind. Members of the general public can being to take part in the project by purchasing a Genographic Project Public Participation Kit and submitting their own cheek-swab sample.
In 2015 alone we launched four projects across the world (Palau, Aleutian Islands, Chile, and the Dominican Republic), and published six new papers, including populations studies on the Lesser Antilles, the European Roma, and Australian Aboriginal groups. This past year we also launched our new participation kit called Geno 2.0 Next Generation, and we opened up the Genographic Project database to researchers