Age of Our Ancestors-How Our Genetic Adam Is Much Younger than Genetic Eve

abcnews.go.com ^

[blam]

"Sorry if I am coming across too tough. I am feeling rather grumpy today. I'll try to be more polite. ;^)"

I meant 'tough' in a nice way. You're making me back-up my statements today.

[yhwhsman]

They've got ever larger pools of DNA from living people, and they use models of genetic drift to estimate the time it must have taken for the changes

So, much of this is based on the assumption the model is correct? Is it possible to create a model that points to 'adam' and 'eve' living 200,000, 500,000, or more years ago? Or possibly fewer then 60,000 years ago?

Just curious

[TheGeezer]

The key word is venerated. Many do not understand the difference between venerated, when soemthing is used for inspiration in devotions, and adoration.

Regards.

[Cacique]

btt

[A.J.Armitage]

It does fit with the Biblical account. The "genetic Adam", the father of all male lines of descent still around, was Noah, since the only other males on the Ark were his sons. The "genetic Eve" was Eve herself, since Noah's sons brought their wives, and there were three of them.

[carpio]

Bump for later perusal

[FastCoyote]

"Were tests to be done with other genetic markers (if any be available), other results may obtain."

I think that is not totally true, all genetic markers should follow the Y and mitochrondrial reults to some extent. given the Y and mitochondral results, should we not be able to recreate the entire makeup of Eve, and Adam?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Not necessarily. This "Eve" lived about 90,000 years before this "Adam." Check out the links in post 37.

[CobaltBlue]

My understanding is that the only assumption is the rate of genetic drift.

It is a fact beyond peradventure that your mitochondrial DNA is inherited from your mother and only your mother.

Similarly, if you are male, it is a fact beyond peradventure that your Y chromosome DNA is inherited from your father and only your father.

It is also a fact that all humans today possess DNA which is a variation on a theme, and that theme is many thousands of years old.

The only question is how many thousands of years from the origin of the DNA to you.

200,000? Maybe. Less than 60,000? Maybe.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Is this to imply that Eve had an immaculate conception, with no Adam around at the time?

Nothing in the article implies that there were no men (or other women) alive at the time. See the links in #37.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

True. These aren't the ur-parents. These are just nexi through which all lines of descent pass.

Enough of the discussion. When does the halftime show start?

;)

[Modernman]

The DNA studies don't use bones. Certainly not for Y-chromosome DNA, it doesn't last long enough.

I was probably being unclear in my post. The poster I was responding to seemed to believe that just because the bones of the so-called "Adam" were found in Africa doesn't mean he was from there. I was trying to point out that the idea of a group of hunter-gatherers travelling hundreds if not thousands of miles while carrying the body of a deceased member of the group was ludicrous.

[Ciexyz]

Mind-boggling to think about.

[webstersII]

"If i am going to err, it will most certainly be on the side of caution."

Then you are not walking in faith, you are walking in fear. Go see what the Boook says about this condition (I'll give you a hint: it's not recommended).

[CobaltBlue]

No prob. Just wanted to make sure that you knew that there were no bones, no "Adam", it's a statistical hypothesis, but a very interesting one.

On a somewhat different but related topic, I was surprised to learn recently that DNA testing confirms that dogs are not actually related to coyotes or jackals. Wolves only.

[T Minus Four]

Not to mention the Gameboy.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Probably powered by torsion of wound up animal skins.

[cajun-jack]

I know what i'm doing..just trying to make a softer landing for the "anti" crowd...but thanks for your concern.

[webstersII]

I don't really agree with that tactic, but that's your business.