Mission

The mission of the LMAP is to elucidate the origin and dispersals of human populations and evaluate the evolutionary processes that shaped genetic variation in them. We analyze genetic diversity in mitochondrial, Y-chromosomal, and autosomal DNAs to reconstruct the population histories of different human groups from around the world, both past and present. In addition, we use genetic tools to explore aspects of mitochondrial metabolism and adaptation in humans and non-human organisms, as well as health and disease in human populations.

World Map of Human Migrations. The yellow lines represent mtDNA (female) dispersals and the blue line Y-chromsome (male) dispersals. Produced by the Geographic Project.

Projects

Many of the projects being undertaken in the Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology @ Penn (LMAP) involve field research in locations both within and outside of the United States (see map below). Fieldwork projects utilize traditional ethnographic methods, standard biological and archeological sample collection, genealogical interviews, and archival research to obtain information of relevance to each particular project.

The locations in which these projects were conducted, descriptions of these areas and their histories, and discussions of project objectives and results are provided on pages within this section of the website. Click on the Project Category links below to explore these projects. The map shown below these links provides a graphical representation of these research locations.

Select a Project Category:

POPULATION GENETICS

ARCHAEOGENOMICS

BIOMEDICAL GENETICS

Molecular Anthropology Projects 1990-2024. This map of the world indicates the populations that are and have been the focus of genetic projects involving Dr. Schurr, LMAP researchers, and their collaborators. The blue dots indicate projects initiated by the Dr. Schurr and his colleagues while he was working and completing his doctoral work at Emory University; the red dots indicate projects initiated at Penn that are now completed; and the orange dots indicate projects initiated at Penn that are currently being undertaken.

Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology at Penn

The Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology at Penn (LMAP) is a 1200 sq. ft. BSL-2 genetics facility. It contains bench and desk space for 6-8 persons, dedicated space for DNA sample analysis, computational work and ethnographic/archival research. Since its inception, some 40 undergraduate, 5 Masters and 18 doctoral students have undertaken research in the LMAP. Details about their backgrounds and projects can be found in the People section of the website.

Adeyemi Oduwole and Raquel Fleskes working on Charleston Project DNA samples in the LMAP
Photo credit: Raquel Fleskes

Penn Genomics and Sequencing Core

In addition to employing the resources at the LMAP, we conduct work with the Penn Genomics and Sequencing Core for different projects. This core is home to three laboratories specializing in genomic services. The DNA Sequencing Facility provides services and support for analysis and interpretation of sequence data as well as the design of approaches to complex sequencing projects. It performs sequencing services on three different platforms: gold standard Sanger sequencing on ABI sequencers, and next generation sequencing (NGS) on Ion Torrent platform PGM and S5, and Illumina MiSeq and Next-Seq. The Next-Generation Sequencing Core (NGSC) provides a full set of services related to single-cell and bulk whole-genome, RNA-Seq, ATAC-Seq, BIS-Seq, Exome-Seq, ChIP-Seq, CLIP-Seq, etc. The Molecular Profiling facility provides an integrated set of services for molecular profiling of DNA and RNA.

Gene-by-Gene Ltd  / Family Tree DNA

Besides using these facilities at Penn, over the past two decades, we have worked with Gene-by-Gene Ltd to conduct SNP genotyping and DNA sequencing for several different projects. Gene-by-Gene (https://genebygene.com/) was founded in 2000 by Bennett Greenspan and Max Blankenfeld, and specialized in DNA-based ancestry and genealogy as FamilyTreeDNA.

This pioneering direct-to-consumer company played a key role in genetic testing for the Public Participation component of the Genographic Project, analyzed DNA samples with the GenoChip for numerous Genographic Project studies, and remains a hub for genetic genealogy studies focused on specific haplogroup (genetic lineages) or populations/communities.

Laboratory facilities at Gene-by-Gene Ltd (https://genebygene.com/company/)

The Genographic Project

From 2005-2020, the Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology at Penn served as the North American Regional Center for The Genographic Project, a major international effort to collect population genetic data from over 100,000 individuals representing diverse communities from a wide range of geographic locations. Together with scholars from ten other regional centers in different countries and a National Geographic support team based in Washington DC (see map below), LMAP researchers investigated the genetic ancestry and migration history of global populations in an effort to answer the basic human questions: Where and when did we originate as a species, and how did we come to populate the entire world?

Research and Administrative Centers for the Genographic Project. The centers included: North America (Philadelphia, PA, USA); Genographic HQ (Washington, DC, USA); South America (Minas Gerais, Brazil); West-Central Europe (Barcelona, Spain, and Paris, France); Eurasia (Moscow, Russia): North Africa & Middle East (Beirut, Lebanon); Sub-Saharan Africa (Johannesburg, South Africa); South Asia (Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India); East Asia (Shanghai, China); Ancient DNA (Adelaide, Australia); Australasia (Melbourne, Australia); and Oceania (Otago, New Zealand).

In each year of the project, the Genographic Project team held a workshop in a location of the world where certain project researchers were based. During the workshop, team members reviewed their research findings, planned for the next stage of fieldwork and lab analyses, and reacquainted themselves with their colleagues. These visits also allowed team members to explore the culture, history and geography of the cities in which the workshops were held. A photo from the 2008 workshop in Shanghai, China, appears below.

Genographic Project Workshop in Shanghai, China. Members of the team include the Principal Investigators, Post-Doctoral Fellows, and Graduate Students from each regional center; National Geographic staff and program directors; members of the Board of Advisors; and representatives from IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation.