On Mitochondrial Eve

Mitochindrial Eve is an ancestor to all human beings. She is the first humanoid to have mitochondria in her cell structure. Mitochondria, and the DNA that creates mitochondria, only exists in the egg. That means that mitochondrial DNA passes from mother to child and has nothing to do with the father.

This means that we can trace mitochondrial DNA much more easily than any other kind of DNA. It does not have nearly as many mixups and interruptions as normal DNA because it does not come from both parents.

Mitochondrial eve probably looked nothing like a human being, but most images on the internet really attempt to make her look like we do. That is probably wrong.