What is mitochondrial Eve?

• A. The first human to walk upright
• B. The most recent common paternal ancestor
• C. The most distantly historical female ancestor of all living humans
• D. A type of ancient tool

Answer: (C)

Mitochondrial Eve is the most recent woman from whom all living humans inherit their mitochondrial DNA, traced through the maternal line. Mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to child with minor mutations over generations, so the matrilineal lineage that survives today points to a single ancestral woman who lived in Africa roughly 150,000–200,000 years ago. She is not the first or only woman alive at her time—there were others, but their mtDNA lineages did not persist to all people alive now. This concept focuses on maternal ancestry, distinguishing it from the paternal line (Y-chromosome Adam) and from any tool or artifact.