Description
Mitochondrial haplogroup M (not to be confused with Y-DNA haplogroup M) is one of the two daughters of L3 — alongside N — that gave rise to all non-African maternal lineages. M is dominant in South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, and includes a wide array of subclades: C and D are found across Siberia and the Americas; M7 and M8 are prominent in East Asia; G is characteristic of Northeast Asia; and M lineages are found at very high frequencies in South Asian tribal populations. M is rare in Europe, where N-derived haplogroups (particularly H, U, J, and T) dominate.
Interesting Fact
Haplogroup M is found at very high frequencies in South Asian tribal populations — such as the Chenchu, Irula, and Jarawa — who are considered remnants of the original Out-of-Africa coastal migration approximately 60,000 years ago, suggesting these groups have maintained relatively undiluted lineages since the initial peopling of South Asia.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Indians | South Asia | — | |
| Andamanese | South Asia (Andaman Islands) | — | |
| Mongolians | East / Central Asia | — | |
| Tibetans | Central Asia / East Asia | — | |
| Han Chinese | East Asia | — | |
| Japanese | East Asia | — |
Tags
References
- Macaulay et al. (2005) — Single, rapid coastal settlement of Asia revealed by analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes. Science 308(5724), 1034–1036.
- Quintana-Murci et al. (1999) — Genetic evidence of an early exit of Homo sapiens sapiens from Africa through eastern Africa. Nature Genetics 23, 437–441.
- Kivisild et al. (2003) — The genetic heritage of the earliest settlers persists both in Indian tribal and caste populations. American Journal of Human Genetics 72(2), 313–332.