Generations

"From Homo neanderthalensis, you're looking at 1,500-2,000 generations of direct DNA with traceable mutations," Doctor Schaaf shared, showing the students to the genetic materials library. "Really, with the right equipment and some obsessive focus, you can find almost all of them; something that's turned to dust isn't a turnoff here." She smiled when a couple of guys in back laughed openly. "How old is YOUR oldest ancestor?" Meghan asked, and Schaaf was impressed; you can't do this work and not map your own line (besides, you're forced to use any and all materials available and your DNA is the easiest to get). "Way back," she said proudly. "Way, waaaaaaaay back, almost to the beginning." Schaaf walked them over to a preserved sample which had its own cryolock. "One thousand seven hundred and twenty two times great grandmother right here, right now." "Wow," some of them reacted. "Wow, indeed," the doctor smiled, "and I suspect she's not the only one who'd kill and eat you same as look at you." Meghan's eyes grew wide, but she didn't ask another question; this was a topic for another time.