Mitochondrial Eve and Mitochondrial DNA

This lab will explain the concept of Mitochondrial Eve, Mitonchindrial DNA characteristics that will gateway to how physical features are different on people all around the world yet the vast majority may come from the same person.

Mitochondrial Eve refers to the common ancestor of all current humans, who is estimated to have lived approximately 100,000–200,000 years ago. This is the most recent woman from whom all living humans today descend, on their mother’s side, and through the mothers of those mothers, and so on, back until all lines converge on one person. Because all mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) generally is passed from mother to offspring without recombination, all mtDNA in every living person is descended from hers by definition, differing only by the mutations that over generations have occurred in the germ cell mtDNA. Mitochondrial Eve is named after mitochondria and the Eve from the Bible. Unlike her biblical namesake, she was not the only living human female of her time.

Mitochondrial DNA is located in the mitochondria, located inside of a cell. It is the powerhouse, converting chemical energy into food for the cell. In humans, the mitochondrial DNA is very small compared to other DNA in the human body especially.  Human mitochondrial DNA was the first significant part of the human genome to be sequenced. In most species, including humans, mtDNA is inherited solely from the mother.

Here are pictures of 5 different people, physically and in enthinically around the world.

Bolivia!

Edward James Olmos, native born Bolivian is an actor/author who resides in California. His features include more tan but fair skin, dark hair, almond eyes, thin lips and medium-sized nose.

Egypt!

Faten Hamana is a famous Egyptian actress. She has medium-sized lips, dark hair, fair skin, a fairly pointed nose, and a round shaped head. She has almond eyes as well.

Greenland!

These two ladies are native Greenlanders. They have features similar to Native Americans, and this could contribute to migrating from place to place due to different  factors some time ago. They have small slit eyes, pointed noses, thin lips and tan olive skin.

Italy!

This is Sophia Loren, a famous Italian actress. She has characteristics similar to Egyptians. Her characteristics include, medium-sized lips, dark hair, bigger almond eyes, pointed nose, and tan skin that leans the more fair side. Italian women are known to have hourglass shaped bodies naturally, and Loren does. Although I have met some short Native Italians, most are fairly tall.

Congo!

This famous Congolese singer, Tabu Ley Rochereau, has very bold features, as do many from the Congo area. He has darker skin, full lips, a fuller nose, and dark coarser hair. Most Congolese natives are fairly tall 

It is hard to describe different body types when so many factors contribute to that, such as stress, food, and sleep habits. Height, however, stays pretty consistent throughout most ethnicities.