Who’s Spencer Wells?

Dr. Spencer Wells is a celebrated geneticist, who studies human diversity.  He is the author of 41 papers and two books, the author and presenter of the PBS/National Geographic documentary Journey of Man: a Genetic Odyssey, as well as several other documentaries for National Geographic, the director of the Genographic project, a popular explorer and lecturer, and the new Frank H.T. Rhodes Class of '56 Professor.

In other words, Wells knows humanity.

The common view of the evolution of man, as is taught in biology classes, addresses the process that occurred in humans long ago.

However, Wells is interested in the decent of man on a much smaller scale… he and she and I and you.  He began the Genographic Project after publishing his first book and documentary, Journey of Man.  By looking at the patterns in current and past DNA samples from all around the great wide world, the Genographic Project re-traced the histories of early human groups as they migrated across the globe.

Wells has been able to connect all men and women to one common ancestor, Y- chromosome Adam, who lived in Africa 60,000 to 90,000 years ago. His descendents ventured out of the African continent, branching into Europe and Asia.  They crossed land and sea, spreading through the South Pacific, and they traversed the Bering Strait, entering the western world.

Last April, Wells visited Cornell, and Ithaca residents and Cornellians swarmed Kennedy Hall to attend his lecture about this Genographic Project.  Since then, he was nominated for the Rhodes professorship.  For Wells, the Rhodes professorship lasts three years, and he must visit the Cornell campus for, at least, one week each year.  As well as taking advantage of the genomics research at Cornell, Wells can spread awareness of genetic analysis to all.

So now you know Spencer Wells.  This is important.  Given his research with global genetics and human history, in a strange, unifying way, he already knows all about you.

 To learn more about Dr. Spencer Wells, and to read about his 2010 visit to Cornell University, check your science section next week for Erin Szulman’s interview with the new Rhodes Professor.