Of course we came from a carefully defined source - our ancestors. No one descends from a “general population figure,” if that term has any meaning.
May I respectfully point out the famous, landmark, gold standard, general population evolutionary theory that at no time, no where, no how, did our human population drop below 10,000 breeding pairs. The same theory that the world’s scientists, some priests, and lots of educated persons hold which is in opposition to some of the Catholic doctrines.
Perhaps, you know about Francisco Ayala who, in his famous, landmark, gold standard, research did consider low estimates of humans, but effectively ruled them out. Since then, other scientists have speculated lower figures; however on CAF, the most popular speculation is 10,000 breeding pairs.
Since I am open to the various results of scientific research, my use of the term “general population figure” is correct.
When one reads actual research about human origin, it may look like there is a carefully scientifically defined source. However, when one uses common sense, it is easy to understand that sources of hard data are limited going backwards thousands and thousands of years, all over the wide world. Therefore, there are assumptions, estimates, and researchers’ personal choices of methods.
Please note that often assumptions and estimates may be valid in a particular, individual research study. I respect the efforts of scientists. Nonetheless, results of particular, individual study of hand-picked genes out of 20,000 - 25,000 genes in a human cannot be extrapolated to an absolute, universal conclusion of any kind. Add in the fact that humans are not clones of each other.
The Catholic Church teaches Divine Revelation, which includes a belief in a transcendent, pure spirit, personal Creator God. The Catholic Church continues to hold that the carefully defined source of humanity consists of two, sole, real, human parents as sole, real founders of the human species.
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