Definition: Native New Zealander Allan Wilson was a molecular biologist whose pioneering work in DNA studies have pretty much revolutionized the paleontological study of human origins. Trained at the University of California at Berkeley, Wilson set up a laboratory there and remained there for thirty some years. Among important results which came out of Allan Wilson's laboratory at Berkeley were studies that determined that human origins were only about 5 million years old (not 25 million, as had been suspected prior to that time), and his work with Rebecca Cann and Mark Stoneking on the mitochondrial Eve, that proved so important to the Out of Africa hypothesis.
Rebecca L. Cann, Mark Stoneking and Allan C. Wilson. 1987. Mitochondrial DNA and human evolution. Nature 325:31-36.
Allan C. Wilson and V.M. Sarich. 1969. A molecular time scale for human evolution. PNAS 63(4):1088-1093
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
Rebecca L. Cann, Mark Stoneking and Allan C. Wilson. 1987. Mitochondrial DNA and human evolution. Nature 325:31-36.
Allan C. Wilson and V.M. Sarich. 1969. A molecular time scale for human evolution. PNAS 63(4):1088-1093
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
