Study seeks to answer:
Just where did these teachers come from?

Four RCS High School teachers are searching for their genetic heritage as part of an international study by the National Geographic Society to trace human migratory patterns over the last 30,000 years.

On a recent school morning, RCS science teacher Vicki Jones and Stephanie Branley joined English as a second language teacher John Parker Jr. and social studies teacher Jen Patnode in gathering around a table in Jones’ laboratory/classroom.

The four teachers spent 30 seconds collecting DNA samples from their mouths as part of National Geographic Society’s Genographic Project for a study that hopes to unravel 30,000 years of migration.

The cheek swab tissue samples were carefully packaged and shipped to the society’s offices where researchers will determine their DNA makeup and what migratory patterns their ancestors have followed over the last few hundred thousand years.

The National Geographic Society study is a five-year effort to understand the human journey—where we came from and how we got to where we live today. This unprecedented effort will map humanity's genetic journey through the ages.

By taking part, Ms. Jones, Ms. Patnode, Ms. Branley and Mr. Parker will learn how their ancestors evolved and traversed the earth.

“Our DNA is being analyzed for genetic markers that are used to trace the migration route taken by your ancestors out of Africa and into Asia and Europe thousands of years ago. This is not a genealogy study, but a look at migration patterns,” said Ms. Branley, who is the high school’s science content specialist.