African Origin of Modern Humans

The African origin of modern humans means that all Homo sapiens today trace back to a common ancestor in Africa roughly 200,000 to 300,000 years ago. Scientific evidence from fossils and genetic studies shows that humans evolved in Africa and then migrated out, replacing other early human species elsewhere. This "Out of Africa" theory is supported by DNA analysis, which reveals the greatest genetic diversity in African populations, indicating they are the oldest. From Africa, humans spread across the world, developing different cultures but sharing a common ancestral origin.