Description
Mitochondrial haplogroup M3 is a South Asian-specific branch of the M macrohaplogroup, found primarily in the Indian subcontinent. It is one of several M-derived lineages that arose in South Asia during the initial peopling of the region by modern humans migrating out of Africa. M3 is found at low to moderate frequencies (~1–3%) across India, particularly in tribal and indigenous populations of central and southern India. Its presence in these populations is considered evidence of one of the earliest human migrations into South Asia, dating to approximately 45,000–50,000 years ago when modern humans first entered the subcontinent via the southern coastal route.
Interesting Fact
Haplogroup M3 is considered a signature of one of the oldest continuous human populations in South Asia — the tribal populations of central India whose maternal lineages trace back to the initial peopling of the subcontinent over 45,000 years ago, predating the later arrivals of Indo-European and Dravidian-speaking peoples.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian tribal populations | South Asia | n=400 | |
| South Indians | South Asia | n=600 | |
| Sri Lankans | South Asia | n=200 | |
| North Indians | South Asia | n=500 | |
| Bangladeshis | South Asia | n=150 |
Tags
References
- Kivisild et al. (2003) — The genetic heritage of the earliest settlers persists both in Indian tribal and caste populations. American Journal of Human Genetics 72(2), 313–332.
- Metspalu et al. (2004) — Most of the extant mtDNA boundaries in south and southwest Asia were likely shaped during the initial settlement of Eurasia by anatomically modern humans. BMC Genetics 5:26.
- Thangaraj et al. (2006) — Genetic affinities of the Andaman Islanders, a vanishing human population. Current Biology 13(2), 86–93.