All humans alive today have inherited their mitochondrial DNA from some individual female common ancestor. Studies indicate this woman probably lived about ________ years ago, when fossil evidence indicates that Homo sapiens was restricted to ________.

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Mitochondrial DNA is only passed down from mothers to offspring, and allows for tracing of maternal lineage. Studies indicate that the most recent common ancestor of all humans alive today, also called the Mitochondrial Eve, lived about 180,000 years ago in Africa. At that time, fossil evidence suggests that Homo sapiens was also restricted to Africa, before eventually spreading to other parts of the world.

All Humans Alive Today Have Inherited Their Mitochondrial DNA from Some