A review by jhobble10
Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas by Jennifer Raff

informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

I think Origin was a really great blend of layman explanations and extra depth for people a bit more scientifically inclined. This topic/field really interests me, so the book was a quick and easy read for me. Learning about how scientists use the molecular mutational clock, haplogroups, SNPs, etc. to estimate population origins and then correlate that with archeological sites and lithics to make population models was the coolest part to me. Understanding the history of the field and how that plays into today’s ethical considerations is also an important feature of the book. The only critique is that I felt like she left us hanging on what ever happened with her findings in chapter 5, and in chapter 8 with the Utqiagvik cemetery samples.