What does the Out of Africa hypothesis primarily suggest about Homo sapiens?

The Out of Africa hypothesis primarily suggests that Homo sapiens originated in Africa and then migrated to other parts of the world. This theory is supported by genetic, fossil, and archaeological evidence indicating that modern humans spread from Africa, replacing other hominin species such as Neanderthals and Homo erectus as they expanded into Europe, Asia, and beyond.

This hypothesis is significant because it implies a single origin for all modern humans rather than multiple independent origins in different regions. The genetic diversity observed in present-day populations tends to be greater in African populations, which aligns with the idea that Africa was the cradle of human evolution. As Homo sapiens migrated, they adapted to various environments, but the genetic and evolutionary lineage can be traced back to African ancestors.