'10,000 years apart': Science rewrites the story of Adam and Eve’s existence
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
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Origin puzzle
The story of Adam and Eve faces scientific skepticism as DNA studies reveal their timelines don’t align, with male Y chromosomes and female mitochondrial DNA separated by at least 10,000 years.
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Eve’s age
In 1987, researchers using a “molecular clock” analyzed DNA from 147 people globally, estimating that mitochondrial Eve lived around 200,000 years ago in Africa.
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Adam’s timeline
Y chromosome research suggests that Adam, the common ancestor of men with Y chromosomes, lived 100,000 years ago—well after Eve’s time.
Shifting data
Carlos Bustamante, a geneticist at Stanford University, notes that while Eve’s timeline has shifted slightly, Adam’s has been pushed further back, increasing the gap between them.
Credit: Stanford University
Italian study
Research led by Paolo Francalacci at the University of Sassari found that Adam might have lived 180,000–200,000 years ago, overlapping with Eve’s timeline.
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Genetic insights
Using molecular clocks tied to historical events, scientists continue refining their understanding of human ancestry, blending genetics with evolutionary history.
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Religious divide
Scientific findings challenge the traditional story of Adam and Eve, suggesting they may not represent the same individuals as depicted in religious texts.
Human origins
Studies agree that modern humans likely evolved in Africa around 200,000 years ago, but the “first couple” remains a scientific and theological enigma.
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Exciting discoveries
Bustamante expressed surprise at the findings, stating that even well-researched areas like Y chromosome sequencing continue to reveal unexpected insights.
Changing narratives
If proven true, these findings could reshape what we know about human origins, challenging the intersection of religion, history, and science.