progenitor

noun6

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. •
   (figurative) 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. •
   A founder.
6. •
   (figurative) Someone who originates something.