Description

Haplogroup P is the immediate ancestor of Q and R, two of the most widespread and consequential Y-DNA haplogroups in human history. Q is associated with the peopling of the Americas and is dominant among many Siberian and some Central Asian populations. R gave rise to R1a and R1b, which together dominate Europe, South Asia, and parts of Central Asia. P likely originated in Central or South Asia during the Upper Paleolithic.

Interesting Fact

The two children of P — Q and R — together account for the paternal ancestry of both all indigenous Americans (Q) and the majority of European and South Asian men (R). Their common P ancestor lived roughly 35,000 years ago, likely in Central Asia.

Distribution by Ethnicity

Ethnic distribution Region Frequency Sample

Tags

References

  1. Karafet et al. (2008) — New binary polymorphisms reshape and increase resolution of the human Y chromosomal haplogroup tree. Genome Research 18, 830–838.