By: Kristy Murphy

Anthropologists have long debated the origins of modern humanity, and in the mid-1980s two competing theories emerged. The first is "The Mitochondrial Eve" theory developed by Allan C. Wilson, and Rebecca L. Cann. This theory uses genetics to show humans had a common ancestor living in Africa 200 000 years ago. The second, conflicting, hypothesis is that of Alan G. Thorne, and Milford H. Wolpoff known as "The Multi-regional Evolution" hypothesis. This theory argues that the fossil record, stretching back for a million years, is the real evidence for human evolution; that modern man developed independently in each geographical locale. However, "The Mitochondrial Eve (mtEve)" theory cuts a clearer picture of humanity's past, and is probably closer to the truth than the other existing theory. As time has progressed since the initial theory was released, new evidence has strongly backed up the study...