The eve controlversy
The publication in 1987 of an analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of modern humans from different parts of the world led to what has been terms the eve hypothesis. Computer-base comparisons of the nucleotides base sequence of this genetic material suggested that there was a significant difference between most African samples and those of all other indigenous humans from Europe, Asia and Australasia. These patterns were interpreted as meaning that modern Homo sapiens evolved from more ancient froms of the species in Africa. The research was also held to mean that a small colonizing group of these new humans had moved out of africa and their descendants then diversified into different habitats. This break out from Africa was thought to have taken place between 100,000 and 200,000 years ago. Although many scientist still believe that modern humans began in Africa, there doubts about the computer analysis which led to the Eve hypothesis. More recent work suggest that the original mitochondrial DNA data could be used to produce many evolutionary sequences not all of which would indicate the existence of a small founder group of African origin.