[quote]Mon Jul 4, 8:52 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A genetic study helps confirm the theory that Polynesians, who settled islands across a vast swathe of ocean, started out in Taiwan, researchers reported on Monday.
Mitochondrial DNA, which is passed along virtually unchanged from mothers to their children, provides a kind of genetic clock linking present-day Polynesians to the descendants of aboriginal residents of Taiwan.
Samples taken from nine indigenous Taiwanese tribes – who are different ethnically and genetically from the now-dominant Han Chinese – show clear similarities between the Taiwan groups and ethnic Polynesians, Jean Trejaut and Marie Lin of Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei and colleagues reported.(Read the article…) news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&c … nesians_dc[/quote]
Dragon boats = genetic memories of War Canoes…?
The Polynesians were the world’s best explorers. They sailed their double canoes so far and made great maps of the stars and currents. I truly admire their adventurous spirit.
this was talked about in an interesting book i read recently called guns germs and steel. the author detailed how the same conclusion could be reached through linguistic analysis. interestingly an early form of the boatcraft which enabled these people to settle the entire pacific was what got them to taiwan at all in the first place.
As a rugby lover the similiarities in physiques also supports this theory. I often wonder why the Taiwanese Aboriginals don’t get more involved in rugby. They are fast, and strong. They would be awesome.
Especially the legs, guys and girls. They are usually so well defined and muscular. Very much like the Polynesians.