Description

Haplogroup C1c is one of the exclusive Native American subclades of C1, found predominantly in South America. Unlike C1b which has a broad North-South American distribution, C1c appears more concentrated in South America, particularly in Andean and Amazonian populations. C1c is found at measurable frequencies in populations from Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia, suggesting it diversified primarily during or after the rapid southward expansion of founding populations into South America. Like all C1 subclades, C1c is absent from Asian populations.

Interesting Fact

The geographic distribution of C1c — concentrated in South America with relatively low frequencies in North America — mirrors the pattern seen with certain other founding lineages that may have diversified during the rapid southward migration from the Beringian entry point to Tierra del Fuego, which genetic and archaeological evidence suggests occurred in as little as 1,000–2,000 years after the initial entry into the Americas.

Distribution by Ethnicity

Ethnic distributionRegionFrequencySample
Brazilians (Amerindian)South America
12%
n=200
Peruvians (indigenous)South America
10%
n=180
Bolivians (indigenous)South America
9%
n=160
Colombians (Amerindian)South America
8%
n=150
Native Americans (average)Americas
4%
n=800

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References

  1. Achilli et al. (2008) — The phylogeny of the four pan-American MtDNA haplogroups. PLOS ONE 3(3), e1764.
  2. Tamm et al. (2007) — Beringian standstill and spread of Native American founders. PLOS ONE 2(9), e829.