Final answer:
Mitochondrial DNA is inherited maternally and does not undergo recombination, making it a valuable tool for tracing human ancestry back to a single female ancestor from Africa, known as Mitochondrial Eve, who lived around 200,000 years ago.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) inheritance is a crucial aspect of molecular biology and anthropology. Mitochondria contain their own DNA, which is passed down from mother to offspring. This matrilineal inheritance makes mtDNA a powerful tool for tracing genealogy and human evolution. Mutation patterns within mtDNA have allowed researchers to trace our common ancestry back to a woman, colloquially referred to as Mitochondrial Eve, who lived in Africa approximately 200,000 years ago.
Every child inherits mtDNA from their mother, creating an unbroken line of genetic material that passes through the female line. Since mitochondrial genes are solely maternally inherited and do not undergo recombination, mutations accumulate in a structured manner over generations. These mutations provide a molecular clock that can help to estimate the timeline of genetic divergence among human populations.
By studying these mutations and their rates, scientists have been able to support the Out of Africa theory, which proposes that all modern humans originate from a common ancestor in Africa. This maternal lineage can be traced by examining the genetic markers within mtDNA, providing insights into our collective history and the migration patterns of our ancient ancestors.