|
( Most recent common ancestor)
In genetics, the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of any set of organisms is the most recent individual from which all organisms in the group are directly descended. The term is most frequently used to apply to humans. The MRCA term also finds use in linguistics to indicate which proto-language a group of languages may descend from.[citation needed] The MRCA of a set of individuals can sometimes be determined by referring to an established pedigree. In general, however, it is impossible to identify the specific MRCA of a set of individuals, but an estimate of the time at which the MRCA lived can often be given; such estimates can be given based on DNA test results and established mutation rates, or by reference to a non-genetic genealogical model. The term MRCA is usually used to describe a common ancestor of individuals within a species. It can also be used to describe a common ancestor between species. To avoid confusion, last common ancestor (LCA) or the equivalent term concestor—coined by Nicky Warren and used by Richard Dawkins in The Ancestor's Tale—is sometimes used in place of MRCA when discussing ancestry between species. The existence of an MRCA does not imply existence of a population bottleneck or first couple. The MRCA of everyone alive today could have co-existed with a large human population, most of whom either have no living descendants today or else are ancestors of a subset of people alive today. This seemingly paradoxical phenomenon can be easily explained, if the nature of lineage is taken into account.
|
Most recent common ancestor Subcategories
Most recent common ancestor Articles
|
| 
