It’s the most recent common female ancestor of all humanity, as determined by mitochondrial DNA.
Or put another way. If everyone traced their family lines back through their mothers, mitochondrial eve would be the first point where all those lines converged on a single woman
There’s also a Y-chromosomal Adam, but they lived many thousands of years apart. That seems very counterintuitive, but when it is explained to you by someone who knows what they’re talking about (i.e. not me), it does make sense.
It’s the most recent common female ancestor of all humanity, as determined by mitochondrial DNA.
Or put another way. If everyone traced their family lines back through their mothers, mitochondrial eve would be the first point where all those lines converged on a single woman
It helps me to remember that mitochondrial Eve isn’t a fixed individual, as well.
There’s also a Y-chromosomal Adam, but they lived many thousands of years apart. That seems very counterintuitive, but when it is explained to you by someone who knows what they’re talking about (i.e. not me), it does make sense.