Abstract
DURING eight centuries—say to the time of the Norman conquest—one's direct ancestors amount to a far greater number than would at first be contemplated. Taking three generations to a century, one has father and mother (2), grandparents (4), great-grandparents (8). At the end of the second century the number of ancestors springs to 64. Following the calculation you will find that at the end of eight centuries one is descended from no less than 16,000,000 ancestors. Intermarriage of course would reduce this estimate, and there is no doubt it must have largely prevailed. But the figures are so enormous that, in spite of all, I venture to suggest that the words “All ye are brethren” are literally true.
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Our Ancestors. Nature 32, 317 (1885). https://doi.org/10.1038/032317a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/032317a0
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