Haplogroup M (mtDNA)

In human genetics, Haplogroup M is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup.

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An enormous haplogroup spanning many continents, the macro-haplogroup M is a branch of the African haplogroup L3, and is believed to have originated in Africa some 60 to 80,000 years before present.

The two haplogroups M and N are believed to represent the initial migration of modern humans out of Africa. Haplogroup M in particular represents the dispersal of modern humans into the Middle East and South Asia some 60 to 80,000 years ago along the southern Asian coastline.

Among the subgroups of M are M1, C, D, E, G, Q, and Z.

Owing to its great age, haplogroup M is one of those mtDNA lineages which does not correspond well to present-day racial groups, as it spans Siberian, East Asian, Southeast Asian, Central Asian, South Asian, Melanesian as well as Ethiopian, Caucasian, and various Middle Eastern groups in lesser frequency.

References

See also

• Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroups
• Human mitochondrial genetics
• Genetics and Archaeogenetics of South Asia