Description
R1b-M269 is the most common Y-DNA lineage in Europe, particularly in the West. It is the defining marker for the massive expansion of Indo-European speakers during the Bronze Age. Arising long before its expansion, it underwent a dramatic bottleneck followed by an explosive star-like radiation around 3000-2500 BCE. Its descendants colonized almost all of Western Europe, replacing the previous Neolithic farmer lineages and creating the modern genetic landscape of countries like Ireland, France, and Spain.
Interesting Fact
The majority of Western European men (roughly 110 million) descend from a single M269-carrying population that lived only about 4,500 to 5,000 years ago, coinciding with the rise of the Yamnaya and Bell Beaker cultures.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish | Western Europe | n=500 | |
| British | Western Europe | n=1000 | |
| Spanish | Western Europe | n=700 | |
| Western Europeans (Average) | Western Europe | — | |
| Armenians | Caucasus | n=400 |
Tags
References
- Haak et al. (2015) — Massive migration from the steppe was a source for Indo-European languages in Europe. Nature.
- Balaresque et al. (2010) — A predominantly neolithic origin for European paternal lineages. PLoS Biology.