Mitochondrial Eve theory

The Mitochondrial Eve theory suggests that all living humans trace their maternal ancestry back to a single woman who lived in Africa around 150,000 to 200,000 years ago. This woman’s mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from mothers, is the common ancestor of all current humans. Over generations, her descendants’ mitochondrial DNA diverged into different lineages, but the original lineage can still be identified. This concept helps scientists understand human evolution and migration patterns, indicating that modern humans share a common maternal ancestor from Africa.