Voyage of Darwin’s Beagle

S01E02 Low Life on the Ladder of God

Upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Darwin was confronted with the harsh realities of slavery. Brazil showcases a rich tapestry of genetic diversity. Fossil and genetic research indicates that Africa is the cradle of modern humanity, dating back roughly 200,000 years. As humans migrated and settled in different continents, their genetic diversity diminished, becoming less diverse the further they moved from Africa. This decline in genetic variation can be attributed to two well-documented genetic processes: population bottlenecks and founding events.