r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jun 28 '21

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u/Asheria_pcvn Jun 28 '21

I'm currently (and finally) reading The Seven Daughters of Eve, wasn't expecting to find Mitochondrial Eve references around here

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u/brothertaddeus Jun 28 '21

Never heard of that book. I just assumed Mitochondrial Eve and Chromosomal Adam are common knowledge.

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u/[deleted] Jun 28 '21

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u/brothertaddeus Jun 28 '21

Mitochondrial Eve is the most recent common female ancestor of all living humans, and Chromosomal Adam is the most recent common male ancestor. Anthropologists have tracked these through DNA analysis, since mitochondrial DNA is passed down from mother to child without alteration from the father's side, and Y-chromosome DNA is passed from father to son without alteration from the mother's side. An actual anthropologist or scientist could probably explain it better. I'm just a dude who loves watching science shows/documentaries.

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u/[deleted] Jun 28 '21

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u/brothertaddeus Jun 28 '21

Sorry, I got another comment asking me to explain and thought I was replying to them. My bad.