Mitchondrial Eve

Sooooo, this is a diagram (from Wikipedia) illustrating the concept behind mitochondrial Eve. Basically, in each of our cells, there is more than just nuclear DNA floating around. There is also DNA present in the mitochondria of all cells. In nuclear DNA, the components originate 50% from both parents; however, with mitochondrial DNA, all of the DNA is traced back to the maternal donor. All mitochondrial DNA in everyone is linked back to their mothers. So with that idea, it can be deduced that if the m.DNA linage is traced back far enough, a single donor of the m.DNA can be found, who scientists have named mitochondrial Eve. All of our m.DNA comes from her, so because of her and many mutations that have occurred to the m.DNA among the years, we have become who we are today.

This article from the PBS network explores with more depth about the topic, including dates as to how long ago can the m.DNA linage be traced.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/neanderthals/mtdna.html

Five different person types that have all originated from mitochondrial Eve include (described by flavors of ice cream :D!):
Frozen Yogurt
Vanilla
Butterscotch
Coffee
Dark Chocolate

Sorry about that, but I really couldn't think of a way to word the types by what region of the world they originate from! Sorry! :)