Description
Haplogroup J2a (M410) is the dominant subclade of J2, broadly distributed across the Mediterranean, Near East, Caucasus, and South Asia. It is particularly common in Turkey, Iran, the Levant, Greece, Italy, and among South Asian populations (especially upper-caste Indians and Pakistanis). J2a was a key lineage in the Neolithic expansion from Anatolia and the Near East into Europe and South Asia. Ancient DNA has recovered J2a from Bronze Age Anatolian and Levantine samples, and it appears to have been carried by early Neolithic farmers and Bronze Age urban populations alike.
Interesting Fact
J2a has been found in ancient Bronze Age samples from the Near East and Anatolia including from populations associated with the earliest urban civilizations — Sumerians, early Anatolians, and Bronze Age Levantines. Its broad distribution from the Mediterranean to South Asia may reflect the spread of Neolithic and Bronze Age agricultural populations and the trade networks they established.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turks | West Asia | n=600 | |
| Iranians | West Asia | n=500 | |
| Greeks | Southern Europe | n=400 | |
| Italians | Southern Europe | n=600 | |
| South Asians (upper caste) | South Asia | n=600 |
Tags
References
- Semino et al. (2004) — Origin, diffusion, and differentiation of Y-chromosome haplogroups E and J. American Journal of Human Genetics 74(5), 1023–1034.