Description
Mitochondrial haplogroup HV2 is an East African and Near Eastern branch of HV, representing one of the oldest lineages of the HV clade. HV2 is found at moderate frequencies in Ethiopia, Somalia, and other Horn of Africa populations, as well as among some Arabian Peninsula groups, suggesting a deep connection between the East African and Near Eastern gene pools. Its presence in Ethiopia at 3–7% reflects the complex migration patterns that linked Africa and the Near East during the Paleolithic and early Holocene. HV2 is considered a marker of ancient populations at the interface of Africa and Eurasia.
Interesting Fact
The presence of HV2 in both Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula reflects a bidirectional gene flow across the Red Sea that has occurred repeatedly over tens of thousands of years — a genetic signature of one of humanity's most ancient corridors of migration and cultural exchange.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yemenis | Near East | n=200 | |
| Ethiopians (Amhara) | East Africa | n=300 | |
| Somalis | East Africa | n=200 | |
| Egyptians | North Africa | n=350 | |
| Saudis | Near East | n=300 |
Tags
References
- Musilova et al. (2011) — Population history of the Red Sea — genetic exchanges between the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa signaled in the mitochondrial DNA HV1b2 haplogroup. BMC Evolutionary Biology 11:259.
- Behar et al. (2008) — The dawn of human matrilineal diversity. American Journal of Human Genetics 82(5), 1130–1140.
- Černý et al. (2011) — Out of Arabia — The settlement of island Soqotra as revealed by mitochondrial and Y chromosome genetic diversity. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 146(3), 439–452.