Mitochondrial Eve

Mitochondrial Eve is the idea that because all mitochondrial information is inherited from mothers, therefore it can be traced back to one one common ancestor that would embody the characteristics of all different ethnic types and is call Mitochondrial Eve. She is estimated to have lived about 200,000 years ago in modern day Eastern Africa.These are examples of the different lineages of ethnic groups that have diverged from her:

 Masai African

"modern" portrayal of Italians these days

Mexican American 

Asian

Greek

Sudanese 

Genetic Diversity is the result of genetic mutations over time, differences in chromosomal makeup, and mutations during mitosis and meiosis. These mutations can cause significant changes in the appearance of a ethnic group, while another one living in a country over will have no exposure to this, thus resulting in genetic diversity and differences. In another 1,000 years we will probably see even greater amounts of diversity since there is a lot more travel, and people of different ethnic groups settling in different places.

Amphioxus

Amphioxi, also known as lancelets, are small marine animals, seldom larger than 8 cm long, They resemble small, slender fish without eyes or definite heads.It has the basic chordate features: a notochord, gill slits, and a dorsal nerve cord. They have very basic digestive and circulatory systems, and are probably a representative of the most basic type of life form. Life for an organism is defined as being able to maintain homeostasis, be able to undergo metabolism, possess a capacity to grow, respond to stimuli, undergo reproduction, and be able to adapt to environmental changes.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/21580/amphioxus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancelet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life