Of course, one of the most profound things about modern genetics is the proof it has provided, at a cellular level, of the theory of evolution – enabling the mapping not only of our current genetic library but also where the components may have come from. The overwhelming evidence proves the ‘Out of Africa’ theory – with all of us containing genetic code that first appears in the peoples of that continent. We will touch on this again when examining the genetics of skin-colour. Of course, the kind of biological archaeology that geneticists investigating the origins of humanity use was not necessary in Sandra’s case. The complex nature of South Africa's more immediate history was proclaimed in her appearance but it was a source not of fascination but of embarrassment and denial for many in authority then and in the broader white population.
