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Show mmi na wags if B Opinions C4 "BusinessC5 1 I I f7r f7 g WAhfolll Vi The Daily Herald Monday, March 17, 1997 'Pure race' 14 genetically nonexistent We continue our discussion of the reconstructed history of human populations, as based on the huge masses of genetic data recently compiled by L. L. Cavalli-Sforz- a and his One basic truth must be emphasized before proceeding any further that the amount of genetic variation within any major human population exceeds that found between populations. There is no such thing as a "pure race" that is. a population or ethnic group that either possesses, or lacks, significant genetic systems or characters that separate that group from the others. It must also be stressed that, although many basic patterns in the origin and spread of human genes are quite clear, Cavalli's reconstructions in most cases must be regarded as highly evidenced but not absolutely definitive and settled. Since the human species can be divided into approximately 5,000 J I - I Duane J Jeffery Daily Herald photosBrian Winter Colin Mackintosh, left, and Dave Valerio walk out onto Strawberry Reservoir Friday morning on their way to try their luck at ice HHHnpHBWP"'UI1 Science & ' UllllPImilL.l .ll .LH..ULJI P . J.UL.NM...I..- -I. ..III. 41, lishing. .I1JBJ I. iijyiIHUIJI.il. IBUJI Society different groups, it is inevitable that some populations' relationships will y lack even evidence. But the major patterns are now sufficiently clear that further research is not likely to overturn them. The genetic data are bolstered by archeological and other sorts of evidence, particularly linguistic comparisons. Language seems to change by many of the same rules that genetic systems change; the two systems seem to complement each other quite nicely. The largest single pattern is that human genes seem to have spread generally eastward from their point of origin. The fountainhead seems to have been in Africa. From Africa, the evidence indicates a migration into southwest Asia, a northward and westward spread into Europe, and a spread eastward across Asia. The precise routes of this Asian spread are not clear, but one route through central Asia and another across southern Asia seem reasonable. From the apparent southern route, humans moved into the islands of southeast Asia and eventually to New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand. (Lower sea levels during the Ice Ages made the trip easier than it would be at present.) Somewhat later, Oceania (the Pacific Islands) seems to have been high-qualit- - peopled primarily by an eastward expansion also from southern Asia. And from northern Asia, populations seem to have spread eventually across Beringia (a land bridge presently occupied by the Bering Strait) into North America and onward into South America. The New World was thus the last of the earth's major landmasses to have humans. For this latter series of human expansion, Cavalli's genetic data seem to match well with certain sets of data based on physical characteristics of native American populations, and with the (still controversial) synthesis of linguistic data propounded by Joseph Greenberg: that the Americas have been peopled by three independent waves of migration from Asia. I simply cannot push Cavalli's story in more detail without getting bogged down into weeks of columns. The man has produced a huge mass of writings that weave archeology and history into the picture, with discussions of the extent to which variations in intellectual abilities are inherited and are (or are not) characteristic of specific ethnic groups. He works with the concepts of race and racism, concluding that both concepts are useless at best and dangerous at worst. Interested readers should begin The Great with his popular-levHuman Diasporas, though the summaries of data found in the huge tomt The History and Geography of Human Genes are often clearer and more focused. One thing is clear: no human being in history has had a better grasp of the genetic makeup of human species than Luigi Ill za. Dunne Jeffery is a professor of zoology ol Brighton Young ' " 111 f' f v U r ! . Of P j 1 1 -- ... J. r Bay Lodge on Friday afternoon. Wilson and members of his lodge, which was built in the spring of 1995 at the feservoir. the Strawberry were enjoying the weekend at the reservoir enjoying the m 0! By JOHN BEST to The Daily Herald j, The Strawberry Valley has been considered Utah's favorite fishing hole for more than 60 years. Now the area is gaining notoriety for a different reason. Many outdoor enthusiasts rate this alluring valas Utah's ley most exciting back-count- - ... 5i fr' XI '." ' "4 r; ', .. r .. Mackintosh drills a hole through the ice as he prepares to begin a day of ice fishing. Although ice fishing and snowmobiling are two of the more popular winter sports at the reservoir, many other peoskiing ple take advantage of the Strawberry Valley for cross-countr- y and snowboarding. 1am-il- y Fishing, snowmobiling only some of winter sports at Strawberry Special i - tx-- Lr v " Todd Wilson of Lehi walks with his daughter, Ashley, 2, to el Cavalli-Sfor- ' r ry Utah's Department of Transportation, the Forest Serv ice, the State Parks Department and Doug Phillips, owner of Strawberry Bay Lodge and Marina, the valley is open, easily accessible and offers a myriad of winter activities to thousands of outdoor adventurers. mwrwn 1mm winter playground area, saying it includes the best open and country trail groomed snowmobiling in the state. Outdoor adventurers are soaking up fresh mountain air and bright sun as they enjoy snow of Illinois rides his snowmobile on Barron Buchunas mobiling ry Bay Marina out into an open area. Buchunas of from hundreds Sandy rented snowmobiles for an afternoon of miles groomed snowmobile trails, cross Lodging, a restaurant, equipcountry skiing, ice fishing, ment rentals, gas and supplies are tubing, winter camping, all available at the Strawberry g even and dog sledding Bay Lodge and Marina, making a in this crisp clear valley, excursion a comfortable winter is measured by where visibility and exciting experience. mountain ranges, not miles. Just a few years ago the valFor many years, this area has winter visitors were a been locked up by deep snows ley's only ice and a small few fisherman and the frosty grip of winter. Now, Todav. of snowmobilers. number with effort thanks to a combined snow-shoein- snow-boardin- g, Strawberry Valley is being billed of the top snowmobile complexes in the state and region, and it is even gaining national recognition. "We even have visitors from as far away as Europe. Nova Scotia and Japan who come to enjoy w inter in this valley." Phillips says. A distinct to advantage those who live in the shadows of the towering Rocky Mountains is the ease of accessibility to the natural and splendor wonder of back country areas in this region. This picturesque valley, surrounded b from Strawbermountains, and his friends lakes, streams at the reservoir. and forests, is filled with a winter majesty that few have been able to experience until now. Deer Creek State Park Manag-- . er. Paul Dixon, is also the grooming manager for the Strawberry Snowmobile Complex. "J've worked at most of the nine snowmobile complexes in the state and the Strawberry Coni-(Se- e SPORTS. Page C2) as one |