Description
Haplogroup L0a is a subclade of L0, one of the earliest-branching lineages in the human mtDNA tree. L0a is distributed primarily in East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia, and is also found in the Horn of Africa and among some populations of Southern Africa. As part of the L0 clade, L0a represents extremely ancient maternal lineages that diverged among African populations long before the major Out of Africa dispersal. Its diversity and age make it an important marker for studying the earliest chapters of modern human evolution in Africa.
Interesting Fact
L0a, along with the Khoisan-associated L0d and L0k, belongs to the most deeply-branching lineages in the entire human mtDNA tree — the MRCA of L0 and all other human mtDNA lineages (the 'Mitochondrial Eve') was an African woman who lived approximately 150,000–200,000 years ago, and L0a carries some of the earliest diverging branches from this common ancestor.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopians | East Africa | n=400 | |
| Tanzanians | East Africa | n=300 | |
| Kenyans | East Africa | n=300 | |
| Somalis | East Africa / Horn of Africa | n=300 |
Tags
References
- Behar et al. (2008) — The dawn of human matrilineal diversity. American Journal of Human Genetics 82(5), 1130–1140.