progenitor

noun

Etymology: From Middle English progenitour, from Anglo-Norman progenitour, Middle French progeniteur (Modern French progéniteur), and their etymon Latin prōgenitor, from prōgenitus, perfect participle of prōgignere (“to beget”), itself from prō- (“forth”) + gignere (“to beget”). By surface analysis, pro- (“prior, fore-”) + genitor.

1. A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
2. A person from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation…) are descended.

   “Abraham, alias Ibrahim, is the presumed progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples.”

3. An ancestral form of a species.
4. A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.

   “ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet.”

   “Are neural progenitor cells infected by Zika virus?”

5. Someone who originates something.
6. A founder.