Mitochondrial DNA and human evolution

• DOI: 10.1038/325031a0
• Publication Date: 2003-06-12T21:09:59Z
• Authors: Rebecca L. Cann; Mark Stoneking; Allan C. Wilson
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Chromosome Mapping; Humans; Female; DNA; DNA Restriction Enzymes; Biological Evolution; DNA, Mitochondrial; Mathematics

Mitochondrial DNAs from 147 people, drawn from five geographic populations have been analysed by restriction mapping. All these mitochondrial DNAs stem from one woman who is postulated to have lived about 200,000 years ago, probably in Africa. All the populations examined except the African population have multiple origins, implying that each area was colonised repeatedly.