Haplogroup A (mtDNA)
Encyclopedia
In human mitochondrial genetics
, Haplogroup A is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup.
Haplogroup A is believed to have arisen in Asia some 30,000-50,000 years before present
. Its ancestral haplogroup was Haplogroup N
.
Its highest frequencies are among Indigenous peoples of the Americas
, its largest overall population is in East Asia
, and its greatest variety (which suggests its origin point) is in East Siberia. Thus, it might have originated in and spread from the Far East
or Central Asia
.
and is also one of five mtDNA haplogroups found in the indigenous peoples of the Americas
, the others being B
, C
, D
, and X
.
Haplogroup A is the most common haplogroup among the Chukchis, Eskimos, Na-Denes, and many Amerind
ethnic groups of North and Central America. Approximately 8% to 15% of Koreans belong to haplogroup A. Approximately 7% of the Japanese
belong to haplogroup A (mostly A4 and A5). 2% of Turkish people belong to haplogroup A.
" of Peru, also called the "Ice Maiden", has been shown to belong to mitochondrial haplogroup A.
In his popular book The Seven Daughters of Eve
, Bryan Sykes
named the originator of this mtDNA haplogroup Aiyana.
Human mitochondrial genetics
Human mitochondrial genetics is the study of the genetics of the DNA contained in human mitochondria. Mitochondria are small structures in cells that generate energy for the cell to use, and are hence referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell....
, Haplogroup A is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup.
Origin
Before Present
Before Present years is a time scale used in archaeology, geology, and other scientific disciplines to specify when events in the past occurred. Because the "present" time changes, standard practice is to use AD 1950 as the origin of the age scale, reflecting the fact that radiocarbon...
. Its ancestral haplogroup was Haplogroup N
Haplogroup N (mtDNA)
In human mitochondrial genetics, Haplogroup N is a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup. An enormous haplogroup spanning many continents, the macro-haplogroup N, like its sibling M, is a descendant of haplogroup L3....
.
Its highest frequencies are among Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, its largest overall population is in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
, and its greatest variety (which suggests its origin point) is in East Siberia. Thus, it might have originated in and spread from the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
or Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
.
Distribution
Its subgroup A1 is found in northern and central Asia, while its subgroup A2 is found in SiberiaSiberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
and is also one of five mtDNA haplogroups found in the indigenous peoples of the Americas
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, the others being B
Haplogroup B (mtDNA)
In human mitochondrial genetics, Haplogroup B is a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup.-Origin:Haplogroup B is believed to have arisen in Asia some 50,000 years before present. Its ancestral haplogroup was Haplogroup R....
, C
Haplogroup C (mtDNA)
In human mitochondrial genetics, Haplogroup C is a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup.-Origin:Haplogroup C is believed to have arisen somewhere between the Caspian Sea and Lake Baikal some 60,000 years before present. It is a descendant of the haplogroup M.-Distribution:Haplogroup C is found in...
, D
Haplogroup D (mtDNA)
In human mitochondrial genetics, Haplogroup D is a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup.-Origin:Haplogroup D is believed to have arisen in Asia some 48,000 years before present. It is a descendant haplogroup of haplogroup M.-Distribution:...
, and X
Haplogroup X (mtDNA)
In human mitochondrial genetics, Haplogroup X is a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup. It has a widespread global distribution but no major regions of distinct localization.-Origin:...
.
Haplogroup A is the most common haplogroup among the Chukchis, Eskimos, Na-Denes, and many Amerind
Amerind
Amerind may refer to:* Amerind peoples, neologism for Indigenous peoples of the Americas* Amerind Foundation, a non-profit, museum and archaeological research facility* Amerind languages, putative higher-level language family...
ethnic groups of North and Central America. Approximately 8% to 15% of Koreans belong to haplogroup A. Approximately 7% of the Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
belong to haplogroup A (mostly A4 and A5). 2% of Turkish people belong to haplogroup A.
Tree
This phylogenetic tree of haplogroup A subclades is based on the paper by Mannis van Oven and Manfred Kayser Updated comprehensive phylogenetic tree of global human mitochondrial DNA variation and subsequent published research.- A
- A3
- A4
- A4a
- A4a1
- A4a1a
- A4a1
- A4b
- A4c
- A4c1
- A2
- A2a
- A2a2
- A2b
- A2b1
- A2c
- A2d
- A2d1
- A2d1a
- A2d2
- A2e
- A2f
- A2f1
- A2f1a
- A2f1
- A2g
- A2h
- A2i
- A2j
- A2j1
- A2k
- A2k1
- A2n
- A2p
- A2d1
- A2q
- A2a
- A6
- A4a
- A5
- A5a
- A5a1
- A5a1a
- A5a1a1
- A5a1a1a
- A5a1a1b
- A5a1a2
- A5a1a1
- A5a1b
- A5a1a
- A5a2
- A5a1
- A5b
- A5c
- A5a
- A7
- A8
- A9
Popular culture
The mummy "JuanitaMummy Juanita
Momia Juanita , also known as the Inca Ice Maiden and Lady of Ampato, is the well-preserved frozen body of an Incan girl who was killed as an offering to the Inca gods sometime between 1450 and 1480, at approximately 11–15 years old...
" of Peru, also called the "Ice Maiden", has been shown to belong to mitochondrial haplogroup A.
In his popular book The Seven Daughters of Eve
The Seven Daughters of Eve
The Seven Daughters of Eve is a book by Bryan Sykes that presents the theory of human mitochondrial genetics to a general audience...
, Bryan Sykes
Bryan Sykes
Bryan Sykes is a former Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Oxford and a current Fellow of Wolfson College.Sykes published the first report on retrieving DNA from ancient bone...
named the originator of this mtDNA haplogroup Aiyana.
See also
- Genealogical DNA testGenealogical DNA testA genealogical DNA test examines the nucleotides at specific locations on a person's DNA for genetic genealogy purposes. The test results are not meant to have any informative medical value and do not determine specific genetic diseases or disorders ; they are intended only to give genealogical...
- Genetic GenealogyGenetic genealogyGenetic genealogy is the application of genetics to traditional genealogy. Genetic genealogy involves the use of genealogical DNA testing to determine the level of genetic relationship between individuals.-History:...
- Human mitochondrial geneticsHuman mitochondrial geneticsHuman mitochondrial genetics is the study of the genetics of the DNA contained in human mitochondria. Mitochondria are small structures in cells that generate energy for the cell to use, and are hence referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell....
- Population GeneticsPopulation geneticsPopulation genetics is the study of allele frequency distribution and change under the influence of the four main evolutionary processes: natural selection, genetic drift, mutation and gene flow. It also takes into account the factors of recombination, population subdivision and population...
- Indigenous Amerindian geneticsIndigenous Amerindian geneticsGenetic history of indigenous peoples of the Americas primarily focus on Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroups and Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroups. Autosomal "atDNA" markers are also used, but differ from mtDNA or Y-DNA in that they overlap significantly...
- Sinforosa AmadorSinforosa AmadorSinforosa Amador Noriega was born at the Real Presidio de San Francisco on July 18, 1788 and was baptized at "Misión de Nuestro Seráfico Padre San Francisco", later known as Mission Dolores....
External links
- General
- Ian Logan's Mitochondrial DNA Site
- Mannis van Oven's Phylotree
- Haplogroup A
- Beringian Standstill and Spread of Native American Founders (PLoS)
- Spread of Haplogroup A, from National Geographic
- Aiyana