A generative study of human ancestry

100 Generations

A journey through human ancestry.

Generation 100

Generation100

2¹⁰⁰ ≈ 1.27 × 10³⁰theoretical ancestor positions

At the edge of a story too large to see at once.

The descent through time

Generation80

2⁸⁰ ≈ 1.21 × 10²⁴theoretical ancestor positions

Generation60

2⁶⁰ ≈ 1.15 × 10¹⁸theoretical ancestor positions

Generation40

2⁴⁰ ≈ 1.10 × 10¹²theoretical ancestor positions

Generation25

2²⁵ = 33,554,432theoretical ancestor positions

Each connection leads to another life.

The human scale

Generation20

2²⁰ = 1,048,576theoretical ancestor positions

Generation10

2¹⁰ = 1,024theoretical ancestor positions

Generation5

2⁵ = 32theoretical ancestor positions

Generation2

2² = 4grandparents

Generation1

2¹ = 2parents

Behind every person, another generation.

One person. Countless connections.

100 Generations

One life at the center.

You are one point in a much larger story.

And every point has a story of its own.

100 Generations

A generative study of human ancestry.

Each point is an ancestor position, each line a parent and a child. Past the inner rings the drawing stops doubling and lines merge, as shared ancestors do in real families. The outer rings are an abstract structure, not a record of real people.

A generative study of human ancestry

100 Generations

A journey through human ancestry.

The ancestry structure from aboveOne point at the center. Around it, rings of ancestor positions: 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8, 16 and so on, out to generation 100. A highlighted line runs from the outermost ring to the center; its first seven points carry the names of one real paternal line: Aidan at the center, then Milaim, Xhafer, Selim, Rexhep, Tafa and Mustafa.AidanMilaimXhaferSelimRexhepTafaMustafa
One life at the center.

At the edge of a story too large to see at once.

  1. Generation 1002¹⁰⁰ ≈ 1.27 × 10³⁰ theoretical ancestor positions
  2. Generation 802⁸⁰ ≈ 1.21 × 10²⁴ theoretical ancestor positions
  3. Generation 602⁶⁰ ≈ 1.15 × 10¹⁸ theoretical ancestor positions
  4. Generation 402⁴⁰ ≈ 1.10 × 10¹² theoretical ancestor positions
  5. Generation 252²⁵ = 33,554,432 theoretical ancestor positions
  6. Generation 202²⁰ = 1,048,576 theoretical ancestor positions
  7. Generation 102¹⁰ = 1,024 theoretical ancestor positions
  8. Generation 52⁵ = 32 theoretical ancestor positions
  9. Generation 22² = 4 grandparents
  10. Generation 12¹ = 2 parents

Each connection leads to another life. Behind every person, another generation.

One person. Countless connections.

You are one point in a much larger story. And every point has a story of its own.

Each point is an ancestor position, each line a parent and a child. Past the inner rings the drawing stops doubling and lines merge, as shared ancestors do in real families. The outer rings are an abstract structure, not a record of real people.