Our Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) as Mitochondrial "Eve" and Y chromosomal "Adam". This isn't the Adam and Eve we are familiar with in the Garden of Eden, these names were coined by researchers.

The MRCA pertains to the nearest relative we are all linked....everyone! There is nobody on this planet that doesn't match our MRCA, meaning we all share some of the same DNA. We are all related, the question is when.  

Mitochondrial "Eve" is a fossil found near Kenya, Africa assumed to be about 140,000 years old. After studies had been taken of "Eve", it was observed that she has DNA that matches everyone. This doesn't mean she was the first person on earth, it just means she is the first person that links us all together.

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 Family Tree DNA to test your Y Chromosome...your Paternity Lineage Test

The male version of the MRCA is Y chromosomal "Adam" who had originated much later than "Eve", about 60,000 years ago. "Adam" was found near Kenya, Africa as well. Every modern man that has analyzed his Y chromosome DNA matches him. Thus showing the world relation to be at least 60,000 years young. Here is a video depicting our male MRCA.

Most Recent Common Ancestor - Back to Human mtDNA