Mitochondrial Eve
Ancient Human
A 1987 article in the journal Nature suggested the existence of a single ancient woman from whom all modern humans inherited mitochondrial genetic material. The primary author, Rebecca Cann, called this woman Eve and said she lived in Africa around the year 200,000 B.C. (Carr did not suggest that Mitochondrial Eve was the first human woman -- only that all later humans shared her genetic material.) The theory has been disputed by other scientists and continues to be explored.Extra credit: The full title of the paper printed in Nature was "Mitochondrial DNA and Human Evolution"... Cann was a professor at the University of Hawaii; her co-authors on the paper were Berkeley's Allan Wilson and Mark Stoneking... Eve takes her name from the Bible's original woman, Eve... Another genetically interesting Eve was the alleged first human clone, 2002's Baby Eve.
Other ancient humans include Arlington Springs Woman and Kennewick Man.
Four Good Links
Mitochondrial Eve: An Explanation
BBCi offers a simple take on the idea; don't miss the lengthy discussions linked at the end
A Shrinking Date for "Eve"
1998 creationists' response to the implications
Tracing Ancestry with mtDNA
The program NOVA offers a more detailed explanation
Written for a Generation to Come
An essay that argues the DNA evidence supports a biblical view
Vital Stats
Birth
Birthplace
Africa
Death
c. 200,000 B.C.
(age 199800)
Best Known As
Possibly the genetic 'mother' of all modern humans
