In 1996 the research group at
Stanford University headed by Dr. Peter Underhill first discovered the SNP that was to become known as M3. At the time, it was called DYS191. Later studies completed the genetic bridge by determining that Q-M3 was related to Q-M242-bearing populations who traveled through Central Asia to East Asia.[2]
Origin and distribution
Haplogroup Q-M3 is one of the
Y-Chromosome haplogroups linked to the indigenous peoples of the Americas (over 90% of indigenous people in Meso & South America). Today, such lineages also include other Q-M242 branches (
Q-M346,
Q-L54,
Q-P89.1,
Q-NWT01, and
Q-Z780), haplogroup C-M130 branches (
C-M217 and
C-P39), and
R-M207, which are almost exclusively found in the North America. Haplogroup Q-M3 is defined by the presence of the (M3)
single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Q-M3 occurred on the Q-L54 lineage roughly 10-15 thousand years ago as the migration into the Americas was underway. There is some debate as to on which side of the Bering Strait this mutation occurred, but it definitely happened in the ancestors of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.[3]
The Americas
Populations carrying Q-M3 are widespread throughout the Americas. Since the discovery of Q-M3, several subclades of Q-M3 bearing populations have been discovered in the Americas as well. An example is in South America where some populations have a high prevalence of SNP M19 which defines subclade Q-M19. M19 has been detected in 59% of Amazonian
Ticuna men and in 10% of
Wayuu men.[4] Subclades Q-M19 and Q-M199 appear to be unique to South American populations and suggests that population isolation and perhaps even the establishment of tribes began soon after migration into the Americas.[5]
The
Kennewick Man has a Y chromosome that belongs to the most common sub-clade Q1b1a1a-M3 while the Anzick's Y chromosome belongs to the minor Q1b1a2-M971 lineage.[6]
Asia
Q-M3 is present in some
Siberian populations in Asia. It is unclear whether these are remnants of the founding lineage or evidence of back-migrations from Beringia to East Asia.[7]
The Q-M3 lineage has not been detected in the European population.
Subclade distribution
Q-M19 M19 This lineage is found among
Indigenous South Americans, such as the
Ticuna and the
Wayuu.[8] Origin: South America approximately 5,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Q-M194 It has only been found in South American populations.[8]
Q-M199 This lineage has only been found in South American populations.
Q-PAGES104 This lineage was discovered by the research group at the
Whitehead Institute headed by Dr.
David C. Page. Only limited demographic information is known.
Q-PAGES131 This lineage was discovered by the research group at the Whitehead Institute headed by Dr. David C. Page. Only limited demographic information is known.
Q-L663 This lineage was discovered by citizen scientists. It is linked to indigenous populations in Central Mexico and has been associated with the Otomies (Hñähñús, as they self-identify) from Hidalgo, Mexico (Gómez et al, 2021). Q-L663's paternal line was formed around 550 BCE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1250 CE. Extensive research on this haplogroup is being conducted by members of the New Mexico Genealogical Society, with at least 16 NGS Y-DNA tests as of 2023. The earliest known genealogical records for a Q-L663 descendant were for a man named Nicolás de Espinosa, a native of the Villa de los Lagos, Nueva Galicia, Mexico, who was born circa 1673.
Gómez, R., Vilar, M.G., Meraz-Ríos, M.A., Véliz, D., Zúñiga, G., Hernández-Tobías, E.A., Figueroa-Corona, M., Owings, A.C., Gaieski, J.B., Schurr, T.G., (2021). Y chromosome diversity in Aztlan descendants and its implications for the history of Central Mexico, iScience, 24 (5).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102487
Q-SA01 This lineage was discovered by the research group headed by Dr.
Theodore G. Schurr.[9]
Q-L766 This lineage was discovered by citizen scientists. It may be linked to indigenous populations in the Southwestern United States and Mexico.
Q-L883 This lineage was discovered by citizen scientists.
Q-L888 This lineage was discovered by citizen scientists.
Current status of the polygentic tree for Q-M3 is published by pinotti et al. in the article Y Chromosome Sequences Reveal a Short Beringian Standstill, Rapid Expansion, and early Population structure of Native American Founders (2018). Calibrated phylogeny of Y haplogroup for Q-M3 and its relation to the branches within Q-L54.[10]
^Van Oven M, Van Geystelen A, Kayser M, Decorte R, Larmuseau HD (2014). "Seeing the wood for the trees: a minimal reference phylogeny for the human Y chromosome". Human Mutation. 35 (2): 187–91.
doi:
10.1002/humu.22468.
PMID24166809.
S2CID23291764.
^ Haplogroup K2b (M1221/P331/PF5911) is also known as Haplogroup MPS.
^ Haplogroup K2e (K-M147) was previously known as "Haplogroup X" and "K2a" (but is a sibling subclade of the present K2a).
^K-M2313*, which as yet has no phylogenetic name, has been documented in two living individuals, who have ethnic ties to India and South East Asia. In addition, K-Y28299, which appears to be a primary branch of K-M2313, has been found in three living individuals from India. See: Poznik op. cit.;
YFull YTree v5.08, 2017, "K-M2335", and;
PhyloTree, 2017, "Details of the Y-SNP markers included in the minimal Y tree" (Access date of these pages: 9 December 2017)
^ Haplogroup K2b1 (P397/P399) is also known as Haplogroup MS, but has a broader and more complex internal structure.