Description
Haplogroup U6 is the major Eurasian-derived mtDNA lineage in North Africa, concentrated in the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya) and Saharan region. It is thought to represent a back-migration of Eurasian populations into North Africa during the Upper Paleolithic or Mesolithic, which may have brought U6 from the Near East. U6 reaches its highest frequencies among Berber populations (Amazigh) of the Maghreb and is also found in the Canary Islands and Iberian Peninsula, reflecting prehistoric contacts across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Interesting Fact
U6 is sometimes called the 'North African Eve' lineage — it is the primary genetic signature of ancient Eurasian back-migration into North Africa, and its sub-branches show a deep rooting in the Maghreb region that predates the historical Arab expansion into North Africa by thousands of years.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berbers (Amazigh) | North Africa | n=500 | |
| Canary Islanders | Atlantic / N Africa | n=300 | |
| Moroccans (Arab) | North Africa | n=400 | |
| Algerians | North Africa | n=400 |
Tags
References
- Olivieri et al. (2006) — The mtDNA legacy of the Levantine early Upper Palaeolithic in Africa. Science 314(5806), 1767–1770.