Description
Mitochondrial haplogroup M5 is a South Asian branch of M found at notable frequencies among scheduled castes and Romani (Roma) populations. In India, M5 is found primarily among Dalit and lower-caste communities at frequencies of 3–8%, suggesting an ancient South Asian origin before the establishment of the caste system. Crucially, M5 was identified as one of the founding mtDNA haplogroups of the Romani people of Europe — a population originating from a single migration out of northwestern India approximately 1,000–1,500 years ago. The presence of M5 in European Romani at frequencies of 10–30% directly links the Romani diaspora to their South Asian ancestry.
Interesting Fact
Haplogroup M5 served as a key genetic 'smoking gun' that confirmed the South Asian origins of the Romani people. When geneticists found M5 — a haplogroup rare outside India — at high frequencies among Roma communities across Europe, it provided definitive proof that the Romani people originated from a single migration from northwestern India roughly 1,000 years ago.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roma (Romani) | Europe | n=300 | |
| Indian lower castes | South Asia | n=400 | |
| South Indians | South Asia | n=500 | |
| Sri Lankans | South Asia | n=200 | |
| Pakistanis | South Asia | n=300 |
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References
- Kalaydjieva et al. (2001) — Patterns of inter- and intra-group genetic diversity in the Vlax Roma as revealed by Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA lineages. European Journal of Human Genetics 9(2), 97–104.
- Sindya N. Bhanoo (2012) — Tracing the Remarkable Journey of the Roma. New York Times.
- Melegh et al. (2017) — Quantifying the migration events in European Roma and non-Roma populations. Scientific Reports 7, 12398.