We know from genetic research that all living males are descended from a single common ancestor that lived around 60,000 years ago, but the mitochondrial dna passed on by female ancestors dates to a common ancestor around 200,000 years ago. We also know that Neanderthals existed at the same time as homo sapiens, but died out around 25,000-30,000 years ago. They are also not our ancestors. What makes Adam unique, in my opinion, his that he has a soul, unlike other homonids that may have existed at the same time. Also, his line is the only one to have survived, and we inherit his sin most likely through the male line. Cain’s wife may have been from another hominid species closely related to us, but not possessing an immortal soul like the children of Adam. This may be the origin of the “children of men” known as the nephilim, whereas Adam’s descendants are called ‘‘children of God’’, since they possess a soul. Of course, this is all pure speculation on my part, and there’s no real way to prove it, but in a way I try to look at both science and religion for an explanation.
