One Human Race: Scientific and Scriptural Views on the Single Origin of Humans [1]

Richard Gunasekera is Research Professor of Science, Technology & Health and Professor of Biochemistry & Biological Sciences. School of Science, Technology & Health at Biola University.

WCIU Journal: Worldview Topic

April 6, 2021

by Richard S. Gunasekera

Evidence from Recent Discoveries in Molecular Genetics and the Human Genome Project on the Origin of Humans

The discoveries of the mapping of the human genome has revealed the shared inheritance of the human species (Collins and Mansoura 2001) all the way down to the molecular level in a manner as never been seen before. Scientific theories on the origin of modern man include two hotly debated hypotheses—also called theories. The older hypothesis for the origin of man is known as the Multiregional Theory. The more recent one is best known as the Out of Africa Theory.

(I) Multiregional Theory: The multiregional model (Wolpoff et al, 1996) states that early humans evolved in different parts of the world into modern humans (Homo sapiens) in separate, somewhat isolated, geographic areas. According to this model, hominids in Asia evolved into Java and Peking man (Homo erectus) and those in Europe and Western Asia evolved into Neanderthals (Johanson 2001). All modern humans are believed to have emerged from these early hominids. Due to natural selection in these regional populations, regional variants or “races” are believed to have emerged. Even though populations were separated geographically, some level of gene flow is believed to have occurred, which prevented speciation. Eventually, Homo sapiens emerged. This phenomenon occurred throughout the entire world, wherever these early humans lived. This multiregional school of thought stresses continuity.

(II) Out of Africa Theory: The Out of Africa theory (Stringer and McKie 1996) stresses a single origin for modern humans. This theory had also emerged before the mapping of the human genome. With the discoveries of mitochondrial DNA, and other genetic information found in the 1980s and 1990s, genetic data has now accumulated which provides a scientific basis for a single origin of humans. Discussion of the numerous paleoanthropological, anatomical, and archaeological evidence for the single origin of humans is not presented in this paper. The focus here is the genetic evidence for this theory.

a. Mitochondrial DNA Data (mtDNA): DNA studies, particularly that of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) show that humans have very little genetic variation (Cann et al, 1987; Ingman et al 2000). The mitochondrial genome itself is somewhat unique, since it is found outside of the nucleus of human cells. It is in an organelle which is quite numerous in the cytoplasm of the cell (compared to just one single nucleus) and is inherited maternally. Therefore this mtDNA is subject to little or no changes (recombination cross-overs) during reproductive cell division (meiosis). Studies of mtDNA across different human populations show that humans are astonishingly homogenous. Studies on mtDNA conducted by others (Rogers and Harpending, 1992) suggest that our ancestors were from a small population of humans who migrated from Africa some 50,000 to 100,000 years ago. The minimal genetic variation found among modern people groups, supports a conclusion that the original small founding population of Homo sapiens of then only some 10,000 to 50,000 people.

b. Some Biblical Parallels: According to the biblical record, all of the family of humankind (understood as Homo sapiens) emerged from one family. Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 2:21-23 records the creation of a man (“Adam”) and a woman (“Eve”). The scientific data discussed above points towards a small founding population of humans, quite similar to the size of the human population found at the end of the first ten chapters of Genesis. And similar to a mitochondrial “Eve” or a Y chromosomal “Adam,” as discussed in scientific articles relating to the original Bible characters of origin, one can easily draw parallels to the biblical record. The recent molecular evidence, at the DNA level, is similar to what has been revealed in the Bible and other scriptures from thousands of years ago.

The Human Genome Project (HGP)

The Human Genome Project was an international collaboration of gene mapping (sequencing of DNA) of the genetic material found in the cells of the human. The Human Genome consists of all genetic material found in a representative cell of the human. These cells can be any cells of the human body except for reproductive cells that have only half the complement of chromosomes and red blood cells that do not have a nucleus. Thus the specific Human Genome Project included sequencing the 3.2 billion nucleotides from the 23,000 – 25,000 genes found in a human cell. This involves determining correct sequence of all these nucleotide bases, identifying the known human genes, and storing this data in a databank.

Homogeneity of Races

According to Francis Collins, the cofounder of the HGP, it is estimated that the DNA sequence between any two individuals is 99.9% identical (Kwok et al 1996). These studies have proven that the actual 0.1% variations are found more within populations of one race and not as much between different groups or races. These further points to this theory of man’s single origin according to Collin’s statement that these variations “were present in our shared ancient human founder group and this reflects the relatively young age and historically small size of our species” (Collins and Mansoura 2001). In addition to other evidence of the shared inheritance of man, this information provides a scientific basis for the belief that all races come from one family and that there is no scientific basis for defining races or ethnic groups. As Winter observes, the chronological order for the table of nations found in Genesis Chapter 10 should be considered to be the state of affairs in the Middle East just before the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11). At that time the one homogenous group of humans on the earth were divided by language according to the biblical account (Winter and Hawthorne 1992). The emergence of cultures, races, and people groups could have very well been based upon a separation by language leading to physical separation and limited intermarriage within the same gene pool.

This can be considered the “Diversity” that is seen in the various ethnicities of man (also called “races”) today. Thus the external phenotypical differences seen among the various ethnicities such as skin color or hair color have been shown as adaptive modifications to external environmental effects. Many studies have been conducted, particularly on skin color variations among humans attributed to micro evolutionary changes by natural selection to the UV content from the sun in various regions of the world to which early people groups migrated (Jablonski and Chaplin, 2010).

This information may lead to a better understanding among anthropologists, evangelists, and missionaries involved in missions among different people groups, (considered E2 - E3 outreach) by missiologists. Perhaps greater harmony among rival people groups can be fostered as well. These matters are outside the scope of this paper.

a. Journey of Man and the Out of Africa Theory on Human Migration

Dr. Spencer Wells is an American geneticist. He became well-known for his genetic migration studies which followed thirteen polymorphisms (genetic markers) on the human Y chromosome of paternal lineage. The effort studied human races and their migration patterns across the globe, starting from Africa. Since the Y chromosome is passed from the male parent to male progeny alone, this chromosomal study is a good method to follow male inheritance. Wells’ studies took him through the Middle East, to Europe and India to Australia, and finally over the Bering Strait to the Americas. After his studies Dr. Wells stated, “It is believed, on the basis of genetic evidence, that all human beings in existence now descend from one single man who lived in Africa about 60,000 years ago” (Wells 2002). Wells’ epic documentary filmed by National Geographic shows the different paths taken by different waves of migratory groups—somewhat similar to what is seen in figure 9:

b. Garden of Eden Location:

Although the precise location of the Garden of Eden is not known, much of the biblical record tends to point towards Mesopotamia or the Persian Gulf area. Although it is also possible that the Garden of Eden was in Africa, albeit at the boundary of some of the above potential locations, more recent studies resulting from the human genome project have provided support to both the Out of Africa hypothesis and for an Out of Eden hypothesis. The so called Out of Africa “theory” is based upon studies which show that African populations have the greatest genetic diversity among all people groups. This theory assumes that populations with the most genetic diversity to be the founder groups from which other populations have emerged. Two more recent studies, emanating from the HGP, have examined genetic diversity from population groups from around the world of over one thousand individuals, from 51 people groups (Jakobsson et al 2008). Results show that African populations have the highest diversity while Middle Eastern populations have the second highest genetic diversity when compared to all populations of the world. Geographically, the African continent has had very little access except for a main route through the Suez. However, the Middle East has much easier access through several routes from Europe, Asia, and Africa. In fact it has been called the cross-roads of the ancient world (Winter 2009). Thus the possibility is strong that an original genetic diversity in the Middle East was diluted as a result of migration from the Middle East to Europe, Asia, and Africa and reverse migrations back into the region (Deem 2009). This could be the explanation as to why Africa now has greater genetic diversity than the Middle East, which may have been the founding population. Africa is relatively isolated, and may have retained its relatively pure and substantially large diversity. Therefore, it can be argued that if Eden existed in the Middle East and not in Africa, then the first founding or created people group that existed on Earth would have come from this region.

Thus conclusions from these studies resulting from these recent scientific evidences are:
(a) the origin of man was indeed from one small people group or persons which agrees with the Genesis record, and (b) that their origin of locality was from the general areas of African-Middle East, agreeing with the Out of Eden hypothesis and the Genesis narrative.

Summary and Conclusions

According to the scriptural narrative the entire human race emanates from one man and one woman. Scientific data from (1) Mitochondrial DNA studies from the 20th century, and more recent (2) Human Genome Project studies from this century, including (3) Y Chromosomal studies, have begun to confirm this single origin of man and woman. These studies further show an unexpected homogeneity among the races of man and the various ethnic groups of the Homo sapiens around the world, at the DNA level. The evidence is in opposition to the multi-regional theory of the evolution of man, proposing a multiple origin from different hominid groups in different regions around the world. The understanding of this single origin of the one human race is a truth that brings diverse peoples (or “races”) of informed humans together for a peaceful coexistence with each other in the modern world.

References

Cann, R.L., M. Stoneking, and A.C. Wilson. 1987. “Mitochondrial DNA and Human Evolution.” Nature 325:32-36.

Collins, Francis S. and M. K. Mansoura. 2001. “The Human Genome Project: Revealing the Shared Inheritance of All Mankind.” Cancer 91 (1 Suppl): 221-25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11148583/.

Deem, Rich. 2009. “Out of Africa or Out of Eden: Does Science Contradict the Bible?” http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/humans_out_of_africa.html.

Ingman, M., H. Kaessmann, S. Pääbo, and U. Gyllensten. 2000. “Mitochondrial Genome Variation and the Origin of Modern Humans.” Nature 408:708-13.

Jablonski, N.G and Chaplin, G. 2010 “Human Skin Pigmentation as an Adaptation to UV Radiation”. In the Light of Evolution: Volume IV: The Human Condition. National Academy of Sciences (US); Avise JC, Ayala FJ, editors. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2010.

Jakobsson, M. et al. 2008. “Genotype, Haplotype and Copy-number Variation in Worldwide Human Populations.” Nature 451: 998-1003.

Johanson, Donald. 2001. “Origins of Modern Humans: Multiregional or Out of Africa?” https://haygenealogy.com/dankenbring/outofafrica.html.

Kwok P. Y., et al. 1996. “Increasing the Information Content of STS-based Genome Maps: Identifying Polymorphisms in Mapped STSs.” Genomics 31(1):123-26.

Rogers, A. R. and H. C. Harpending. 1992. “Population Growth Makes Waves in the Distribution of Pairwise Genetic Differences.” Molecular Biology and Evolution 9:552-69.

Stringer , C. and R. McKie. 1996. African Exodus: The Origins of Modern Humanity. New York: Henry Holt.

Wells, S. 2002. Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Winter, Ralph D. and Steven C. Hawthorne. 1992. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, 2nd edition. Pasadena: William Carey Library.

Winter, Ralph D.  and Steven C. Hawthorne. 2009. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, 4th edition. Pasadena: William Carey Library.

Wolpoff, M. H. and R. Caspari. 1996. Race and Human Evolution: A Fatal Attraction. New York. Simon and Schuster.

End Note

[1] This article is an excerpt from Richard Gunasekera’s book, Origins: Perspectives on the Origins of Man, Disease, and Death (Pasadena: WCIU Press, 2014). n.b. date of publication and research.