Description
Haplogroup J2b2 (M241) is a subclade of J2b found primarily in Southeast Europe, particularly in the Balkans and Italy, as well as in some Near Eastern and South Asian populations. It is especially common in Albania, Kosovo, and northern Greece. J2b2 likely expanded into Southeast Europe during the Neolithic period with farming populations from Anatolia, making it one of the Neolithic farmer Y-DNA lineages alongside G2a and E1b1b. Ancient DNA has recovered J2b2 from Neolithic Anatolian and Aegean samples, consistent with its spread with early Mediterranean farming communities.
Interesting Fact
J2b2 has been recovered in ancient DNA from Neolithic Anatolian individuals (~7,000 BCE) and early Aegean farming communities, placing it firmly among the haplogroups that spread agriculture from the Near East into Europe — making modern carriers of J2b2 in the Balkans and Italy likely patrilineal descendants of Neolithic farmers who arrived over 7,000 years ago.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albanians | Southeast Europe | n=300 | |
| Kosovars | Southeast Europe | n=200 | |
| Greeks | Southern Europe | n=400 | |
| Italians (south) | Southern Europe | n=500 |
Tags
References
- Rootsi et al. (2012) — Distinguishing the co-ancestries of haplogroup G Y-chromosomes in the populations of Europe and the Caucasus. European Journal of Human Genetics 20(12), 1275–1282.