Description
Haplogroup P (mtDNA) is a subclade of macro-haplogroup R concentrated in New Guinea, Melanesia, and Australia. It is one of the most characteristic maternal lineages of Papuan peoples and is found at high frequencies in the Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, and among some Aboriginal Australian groups. P diversified extensively in the Sahul region (ancient combined landmass of Australia and New Guinea) over more than 40,000 years, producing numerous sub-branches (P1 through P12) that reflect the complex population structure of these ancient peoples. It is exceptionally rare outside the Australasian region.
Interesting Fact
The extraordinary diversity of haplogroup P sub-branches in New Guinea reflects one of the longest uninterrupted human occupations on Earth — New Guinea was colonized by modern humans over 50,000 years ago and maintained significant genetic isolation, allowing P lineages to diversify into a remarkable number of sub-branches unique to the island.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papuans (Highland) | New Guinea | n=300 | |
| Papuans (Lowland) | New Guinea | n=300 | |
| Melanesians | Pacific / Melanesia | n=400 | |
| Aboriginal Australians | Australia | n=300 |
Tags
References
- Friedlaender et al. (2007) — Mitochondrial genetic diversity and its concordance with patterns of Y-chromosome variation in island Melanesia. Molecular Biology and Evolution 24(4), 884–900.