DNA Analysis: Swedish-Danish

Continental Europe Dept: Scientists believe that farming originated in the Middle East about 11,000 years ago, and had reached most of continental Europe by 5,000 years ago, according to Vancouver Sun. Researchers came to this conclusion after using advanced DNA analysis on four sets of Stone Age remains in Sweden - one farmer and three hunter-gatherers - dating back about 5,000 years and a DNA analysis of four Stone Age humans in Europe reveals how farmers likely migrated north-ward from the Mediterranean and bred with hunter-gatherers. The research, by a Swedish-Danish team and published in the U.S. journal Science on Thursday, sheds light on an oft-debated chapter of human history - how did agriculture spread from the Middle East to Europe? The latest findings suggest that farming techniques were introduced by southern populations who lived in the Mediterranean region and brought their know-how northward to hunter-gatherers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.