Monday, October 25, 2010

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.



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