How likely is it that all mankind shares a recent common lineage?

Question

Given the amout of variation between two persons' genetic make-up, what is the likeliness of all mankind descending from a single family within the last 5,000-10,000 years?

Before answering this question, I advise you to read this article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_bottleneck

If you know how to check the validity of a Wikipedia article, they can be very accurate - learn to look at the talk page to determine if the information presented has been scrutinised. Also look at the sources for further reading.

Answer 1

I also have to throw my support behind wikipedia. I occasionally find small inaccuracies ... but nine times out of ten, by the time I go to fix it (after researching it more carefully), somebody else has already fixed it. And *rarely* do I find major errors. It is a *fantastic* overview resource ... not something I would cite as a primary resource in a research paper, but excellent for giving an overview of just about any topic.

So by all means read the wikipedia article, and do some independent verification ... you will almost always find that wiki is generally *quite* accurate.

For reading about population bottlenecks, Y-chromosonal Adam, and Mitochondrial Eve, try Richard Dawkins "The Ancestor's Tale". I have also read about these concepts in some of the primary sources. The wikipedia articles on these topics are very good.

According to the genetic evidence (the level of genetic diversity among humans + the rate of genetic mutations in the human genome) it is not just likely, but pretty certain that mankind shares a common ancestor ... but this same evidence shows that the odds of this common ancestor being less than 10,000 years ago is *extremely* unlikely. (And incidentally, if you find a common ancestor X of either gender, you've found a common ancestral couple ... either X and X's mate (if X was monogamous), or at worst, X's parents.)

Incidentally, biblical literalists do not trace the most recent common ancestors as Adam and Eve 5,000 to 10,000 years ago, but even more recent. They trace Noah (and his unnamed wife) as our most recent common ancestor. And according to the true literalists, the flood occurred only about 4300 years ago (see source).

Answer 2

According to a recent study, it is a statistical likelihood that all mankind shares a common ancestor who lived about 5000 years ago. New Earth people should calm down. This in no way means that mankind started 5000 years ago. It just means that as peoples migrate and mix that eventually you come up with a common link.

Think of it this way. If you pick two people in your town and look at their family trees, at some point they will have a common ancestor. You probably won't have to go back more than a hundred years. Take three people and do the same. You may have to go back a bit further, but you'll find a common pretty quick. Now those three people have lots of other uncommon ancestors. It's not like any one of their families started with the common. Now you can do this with four then five the six and with perfect records you could do everybody. The more you do the more you have to go back. Mathematically you can make a pretty good estimate to were the universal common ancestor was. Account for migrations and such and they figure that he/she was probably a Mongolian.

Now, another study I heard about estimates that the entire western population descended from six women who survived a migration into Southern Europe about 10,000 years ago. Sorry, I don't remember these details. It was to long ago.

Answer 3

The Wikipedia article is fine. Your question is misleading in that one could infer that the Wikipedia article is claiming that all modern humans derive from a single family 5, 000 to 10,000 years ago....it does not.

Could all mankind descend from a single family 5K to 10K years ago?

Absolutely not. Humans had completed the diaspora out of Africa by then and had even gone into the New World. The diversity of man was already strongly established 5,000 to 10,000 years ago

Answer 4

I don't see a whole lot of genetic variation between the different races. Now dogs, for example, well, check out those puppies. We know that all dogs have a common ancestor, and not that long ago, but look at the differences between a dalmation, a St. Bernard, a chihuahua, and a weiner dog. Variation is par for the course in genetics.

Answer 5

There was a small group (a couple hundred maybe) that came out of Africa over 100,000 years ago at least. Based variations that occur in human genes at a fairly constant rate, and comparing that to many races of the world, geneticists were able to calculate the general size of the group and how long ago it was.

Answer 6

Zip, zero, zilch, nada.
The Australian aborigines were isolated for about 40,000 years. A pure-blooded aborigine wouldn't have a common ancestor with main population humanity within the past 5,000-10,000 years. And, yes, they're fully human Homo sapiens sapiens.

Answer 7

Layden is powerful. besides the reality that, Capricorn is now and returned the main depended on of a set of signs and warning signs. thqat is going for a Scorpio style character besides. Althought they may be surrounded by skill of folk who're secretive quite frequently. if a Scorpio looks like there is lacking peices of relationships and that they might desire to understand some thing, that would incredibly distract them andcontinual them off beam. Scorpio continuously needs to stay in the loop and be self conscious. Even after an emotional "trauma" yet then thry will discover it perplexing to purely pass forward, they might desire to re-greater because of the fact the Phoenix. it incredibly is suited whilst a Cap is extremely nicely depended on amoung thir circle of friends and kinfolk. whilst they are they're going to in no way think of of taking a plunge. maximum signs and warning signs are not standard to be the main suicidal. yet i've got examine someplace that between the the main unlucky degre in the zodiac is 15 ranges Leo. it incredibly is often going to be extra reliable on someone in the event that they are no longer experiencing diverse what factors they are lacking in the chart. you faucet into that which isn't obtrusive to you and you start to be taught lots approximately your self. Suicide is extremely very unlucky and in no way needs to take place. till now one purely takes the bounce they might desire to accomplish a little extreme self gaining information of and settle directly to believe in others and the life around them. in case you do no longer see the ask your self and what makes life so nicely worth together as then save looking. :)

Answer 8

Actually, Wikipedia has been empirically shown to be at least or more accurate than such resources as Encyclopedia Britannica.

And to say that if you go back far enough it comes to one man and one woman is completely absurd. Populations evolve, not individuals.

Answer 9

I think Mitochondrial Eve lived about 200,000 years ago. Is that recent enough for you? Or are you just trying to disprove the Bible? If that's all it is, don't bother. The 6000-year-old earth bunch won't listen and don't care, and most everyone else is already convinced.

Answer 10

More like 150,000 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_eve