Was Y-Chromosomal Adam a polygamist?

[Lrrr]

If Mitochondrial Eve is 50,000+ years older than Y-Chromosomal Adam, does that mean he was a polygamist?

 

After all, all humans descend from Y-Chromosomal Adam, but not all people descend from his first wife, right? Hence Mitochondrial Eve being a woman from much earlier.

 

Or am I misunderstanding something?

[J.C.MacSwell]

If Mitochondrial Eve is 50,000+ years older than Y-Chromosomal Adam, does that mean he was a polygamist?

 

After all, all humans descend from Y-Chromosomal Adam, but not all people descend from his first wife, right? Hence Mitochondrial Eve being a woman from much earlier.

 

Or am I misunderstanding something?

 

He had to have more than one son. There is no requirement that he reproduced with more than one woman.

 

Polygamy and the fact that males can have more offspring does explain the 50,000 year gap, but you cannot necessarily "blame" the current Adam.

Edited July 26, 2011 by J.C.MacSwell