Description
Haplogroup C4 (mtDNA) is a subclade of haplogroup C distributed primarily in South Siberia, Central Asia, and Mongolia. It is found at moderate frequencies in Altaic, Tuvan, Buryat, and other South Siberian populations, as well as in some Central Asian groups. Unlike C1 which is characteristic of the Americas, C4 is primarily an Asian lineage. It appears to have originated in the South Siberian or Central Asian region and diversified there, representing an important component of the mtDNA diversity of Inner Asia.
Interesting Fact
C4 is frequently found in populations associated with the Altai region — a geographic crossroads that ancient genomics has identified as a key staging area for populations that later expanded into Northeast Asia, Siberia, and the Americas.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuvans | South Siberia | n=300 | |
| Altaians | South Siberia | n=300 | |
| Buryats | South Siberia | n=400 | |
| Mongolians | Central/East Asia | n=600 |
Tags
References
- Derenko et al. (2007) — Phylogeographic analysis of mitochondrial DNA in North Asian populations. American Journal of Human Genetics 81(5), 1025–1041.