Final answer:
DNA differences between Egyptian mummies and modern humans exist but are relatively small due to the stability of human DNA over time. mtDNA and Y-chromosome studies indicate a common ancestor for all humans in Africa roughly 160,000 to 200,000 years ago, but DNA mutations, natural selection, gene flow, and genetic drift all contribute to the divergence in human populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The DNA of Egyptian mummies and modern humans would show some differences due to mutations over time, but the fundamental structure of human DNA has remained consistent throughout our history. Molecular anthropologists use mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is less prone to recombination and thus serves as a stable marker for tracing human ancestry, to establish that all humans have mtDNA derived from a common ancestor who lived in Africa approximately 160,000 years ago. The rate of DNA changes over time can be affected by several biological factors, such as environmental pressures, natural selection, and random mutations.
Biological factors that contribute to DNA changes include:
- Mutations: Random changes in DNA sequences that can create new genes or alter gene function.
- Natural selection: The process by which beneficial traits become more common in a population over many generations.
- Genetic drift: Random fluctuations in the frequencies of alleles (variant forms of a gene) from one generation to the next.
- Gene flow: The transfer of genetic variation from one population to another, which can introduce new genetic material into a population.
As evidenced by studies in mtDNA, modern humans share a common ancestry, and any differences we observe in DNA from mummies versus modern humans are due to the natural evolution of our species.