Mitochondrial Eve and Y-chromosomal Adam are indeed the biological ancestors in theory, the article mentions them in the synopsis (but it's not freely available and it's probably not easy to digest anyway). The former is measured by the number of mutations on the mitochondrial DNA (transmitted from mother to children only) and the latter with the mutations in the Y-chromosome (transmitted from father to son only). In a nutshell, he number of mutations since the common ancestor is deduced from the differences between individuals of the present time, and the mutation rate that is known.
Both have different dates, which makes Eve meeting Adam a bit of a conundrum.
PS: When I first learned about the mitochondria, I found that it was an amazing discovery. The idea we have in each cell a set of critical subunits with their own DNA is so mind-boggling.
I believe there is a lot of arguing about these origins and where humankind first migrated, due to mismatches between different theories.
EDIT: an article that explains the Eve & Adam part much better than me - apparently the theory has evolved and both may even have lived at the same time.
Both have different dates, which makes Eve meeting Adam a bit of a conundrum.
PS: When I first learned about the mitochondria, I found that it was an amazing discovery. The idea we have in each cell a set of critical subunits with their own DNA is so mind-boggling.
I believe there is a lot of arguing about these origins and where humankind first migrated, due to mismatches between different theories.
EDIT: an article that explains the Eve & Adam part much better than me - apparently the theory has evolved and both may even have lived at the same time.
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