The origin, evolution and history of hu(e)manity

Most of our DNA is inherited in equal proportions from each of our parents. But mtDNA has a unique inheritance pattern. We inherit all our mtDNA from our mother, and our mother inherited all her mtDNA from her mother, going back as far as the earliest woman, the mother of humanity, so to speak. It is passed down strictly along the direct maternal line from a mother to all of her children. Males will carry the mtDNA of their mother, but when reproducing, their offspring will carry the mtDNA of their own mother, not their father. Thus, only daughters pass the mtDNA on to future generations.

The Mitochondrial DNA is passed down by the woman

This doesn't mean the Male/Father doesn't carry the Mitochondrial DNA, it only means he cannot pass it down to his children. If he passes anything down, it is the mtDNA of his Mother.

How come?

The reason for the maternal inheritance pattern of mtDNA is due to its localization in the cell. When an egg is fertilized, the cells of the resulting embryo contain the cytoplasm of the egg, not the sperm. Since mtDNA is found only in the cytoplasm, all of our mtDNA comes from our mother, not our father. As the embryo continues to develop into a full grown human, all of the cells in the resulting human contain strictly the cytoplasm and mtDNA of the mother, not the father.

When fertilization occurs, the mtDNA of the father is located in the tail of the seed (sperm) of the Male. But only the head enters the egg of the Female. The cytoplasma in the egg of the Mother is filled with mtDNA, which she was born with and was also carries by her Grantmother while being pregnant of the Mother.

This tells us that the egg cells are the only cells directly linked to our earliest common ancestor, the primeval Woman.

This however does not mean that that is what makes us human. Cause the Mitochondrial DNA is carried by all living organisms.

What is the Mitochondrial DNA?

The Mitochondrial DNA (Mitochondrial Eve Gen, is the theological term), also known as mtDNA. It stands for “mitochondrial DNA.” All of us, both males and females, carry mtDNA. mtDNA is found in most cells in our body, except for in our red blood cells. The oxygen red blood cells only transport the oxygen, the do not use any of the "energy", that oxygen may provide.

Most of the DNA in our body is found in the nucleus of our cells, but mtDNA is unique, as it is found in small structures or organelles called mitochondria. Mitochondria are found in the cytoplasm of our cells, NOT in the nucleus (core of the cell).

The appearance of mtDNA in comparison to the other DNA types in our body has something to do with its ancient origins. Mitochondria has many of the same features as single cell organisms called “prokaryotes”. Bacterial cells are prokaryotes. The mtDNA that is found inside the mitochondria is a circular plasmid, just like the DNA in bacteria.

This living arrangement is called “endosymbiotic hypothesis” suggesting that the reason for the extremely close resemblance of mtDNA to bacterial DNA is that 1.7 to 2 billion years ago, mitochondria were free-living bacteria that were “engulfed” by a cell and became permanently incorporated in the cytoplasm of the cell. This is called a “symbiotic” relationship because the cell and the bacteria provided a survival advantage to each other.

How does mtDNA function?

Mitochondria produces energy “ATP” for the cell, and the cell provides protection. It basically means that without the mtDNA our cells would literally die off. This explains why the mtDNA, Mitochondrial "Eve" Gen or Mitochondrial DNA is so important to all of us, living organisms and beings.

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*Note: I am not a "scientist", but I like to figure out how we function. I do research on my own and connect dots. ~ Auset Ankh Re