Eve-1 Eleventh Feat

"You are already familiar with some of what I'm about to tell you, but, for the sake of
clarity, let me lay it all out. As you already know, because mitochondrial DNA does not take
a nucleosomal structure, it is extremely receptive to the influences of active enzymes. As a
result, it mutates ten times faster than nuclear genomes. You have thought to use this fact to
obtain so-called biological clocks. You calculated how many years it takes mitochondrial
DNA to undergo a fundamental change. By harvesting mitochondrial DNA from two
different life forms and comparing their genetic differences, you have learned to calculate
when those two life forms separated as they evolved. This enables you to draw up
genealogical trees."
Everything Asakura was saying was true, but Toshiaki was alarmed. What was she
trying to say?
"As you honed your methods, you made an attempt to identify your ancestor. You
began taking mitochondrial DNA from a wide variety of humans and observed the degrees to
which it had altered. You then concluded that all human beings could be traced back to a
single woman in Africa. In homage to the Adam and Eve myth, you named her
'Mitochondrial Eve.' In other words, Homo sapiens were born in Africa and subsequently
spread throughout the world. You call this the 'Out of Africa' model. Many conflicting
theories have since arisen, but I assure you: Mitochondrial Eve did indeed exist in Africa. I
can even tell you exactly where. Why, you ask? Because I retain the memory. I was
Mitochondrial Eve. Of course, even before then, I was lurking in that life form you call
'Lucy.' Going back further, I was there in the small mammals...and in fish...and yes, even in
those feeble single-celled organisms that you used to be."
Part Three: Evolution. Chapter 3. Pages 170+171.