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Concept
Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup
Summary
In human genetics, a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup is a haplogroup defined by differences in human mitochondrial DNA. Haplogroups are used to represent the major branch points on the mitochondrial phylogenetic tree. Understanding the evolutionary path of the female lineage has helped population geneticists trace the matrilineal inheritance of modern humans back to human origins in Africa and the subsequent spread around the globe.
The letter names of the haplogroups (not just mitochondrial DNA haplogroups) run from A to Z. As haplogroups were named in the order of their discovery, the alphabetical ordering does not have any meaning in terms of actual genetic relationships.
The hypothetical woman at the root of all these groups (meaning just the mitochondrial DNA haplogroups) is the matrilineal most recent common ancestor (MRCA) for all currently living humans. She is commonly called Mitochondrial Eve.
The rate at which mitochondrial DNA mutates is known as the mitochondrial molecular clock. It is an area of ongoing research with one study reporting one mutation per 8000 years.
This phylogenetic tree is based Van Oven (2009). In June 2022, an alternative phylogeny for haplogroup L was suggested
L (Mitochondrial Eve)
L0
L1-6
L1
L2-6
L5
L2'3'4'6
L2
L3'4'6
L6
L3'4
L4
L3
N
N1: I
N2: W
N9: Y
A
S
X
R
R0 (FMKA pre-HV)
HV: (H, V)
pre-JT or R2'JT
JT: (J, T)
R9: F
R11'B: B
P
U (formerly UK)
U8: K
O
M
M9: E
M12'G: G
M29'Q: Q
D
M8: CZ (C, Z)
Macro-haplogroup L is the most basal of human mtDNA haplogroups, from which all other haplogroups descend (specifically, from haplogroup L3). It is found mostly in Africa.
Haplogroup L0
L1-7
Haplogroup L1
L2-7
L3'4'6
Haplogroup L2
L346
L34
Haplogroup L3
Haplogroup L4
Haplogroup L6
L5'7
Haplogroup L5
Haplogroup L7
Macro-haplogroup M is found mostly in Asia and the Americas. Its descendants are haplogroup M, haplogroup C, haplogroup Z, haplogroup D, haplogroup E, haplogroup G and haplogroup Q.
Macro-haplogroup N is found mostly in Australia, the Americas and parts of Asia.
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