Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup
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 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 is the matrilineal most recent common ancestor 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's an area of ongoing research with one study reporting one mutation per 8000 years.
Phylogeny
This phylogenetic tree is based Van Oven.- L
- * L0
- * L1-6
- ** L1
- ** L2-6
- *** L5
- *** L2'3'4'6
- **** L2
- **** L3'4'6
- ***** L6
- ***** L3'4
- ****** L4
- ****** L3
- ******* M
- ******** M8: CZ
- ******** M9: E
- ******** M12'G: G
- ******** M29'Q: Q
- ******** D
- ******* N
- ******** N1: I
- ******** N2: W
- ******** N9: Y
- ******** A
- ******** S
- ******** X
- ******** R
- ********* R0
- ********** HV:
- ********* pre-JT or R2'JT
- ********** JT:
- ********* R9: F
- ********* R11'B: B
- ********* P
- ********* U
- ********** U8: K
- ******** O
Chronology
| Haplogroup | time of origin | Possible place of origin | Highest frequencies |
| L | 200 | - | |
| L1-6 | 170 | East Africa | - |
| L2-6 | 150 | East Africa | - |
| L0 | 150 | East Africa | - |
| L1 | 140 | Central Africa | - |
| L3-6 | 130 | - | |
| L5 | 120 | - | |
| L2 | 90 | - | |
| L3 | 70 | East Africa | - |
| N | 70 | East Africa or West Asia | - |
| M | 60 | East Africa, West Asia or South Asia | - |
| R | 60 | - | |
| U | 55 | North-East Africa or India | |
| RT'JT | 55 | Middle East | |
| JT | 50 | Middle East | |
| U8 | 50 | Western Asia | |
| R9 | 47 | - | |
| B4 | 44 | - | |
| F | 43 | - | |
| U4'9 | 42 | Central Asia | |
| U5 | 35 | Western Asia | |
| U6 | 35 | North Africa | |
| J | 35 | - | |
| X | 30 | - | |
| K | 30 | - | |
| U5a | 27 | - | |
| HV | 27 | Near East | |
| J1a | 27 | Near East | |
| T | 27 | Mesopotamia | |
| K1 | 27 | - | |
| I | 26 | - | |
| J1 | 24 | Near East | |
| W | 20 | - | |
| U4 | 20 | Central Asia | |
| X2 | 20 | - | |
| H | 20 | Western Asia | |
| U5a1 | 18 | Europe | |
| J1b | 11 | - | |
| V | 14 | - | |
| X2a | 13 | North America | - |
| H1 | 12 | - | |
| H3 | 12 | - | |
| X1 | 10 | - |
Geographical distribution
A 2004 paper suggested that the haplogroups most common in modern European populations were:H, J, K, N1, T, U4, U5, V, X and W.
African haplogroups: L0, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, T, U5a
Australian haplogroups: M42a, M42c, M14, M15, Q, S, O, N, P.
Asian haplogroups: F, C, W, M, D, N, K, U, T, A, B, C, Z, U many number variants to each section