2013-05-20
Neolithic mitochondrial haplogroup H genomes and the genetic origins of Europeans
Publication
Publication
Nature Communications , Volume 4
Haplogroup H dominates present-day Western European mitochondrial DNA variability (>40%), yet was less common (∼19%) among Early Neolithic farmers (∼5450 BC) and virtually absent in Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. Here we investigate this major component of the maternal population history of modern Europeans and sequence 39 complete haplogroup H mitochondrial genomes from ancient human remains. We then compare this 'real-time' genetic data with cultural changes taking place between the Early Neolithic (∼5450 BC) and Bronze Age (∼2200 BC) in Central Europe. Our results reveal that the current diversity and distribution of haplogroup H were largely established by the Mid Neolithic (∼4000 BC), but with substantial genetic contributions from subsequent pan-European cultures such as the Bell Beakers expanding out of Iberia in the Late Neolithic (∼2800 BC). Dated haplogroup H genomes allow us to reconstruct the recent evolutionary history of haplogroup H and reveal a mutation rate 45% higher than current estimates for human mitochondria.
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| The Genographic Consortium | |
| doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2656, hdl.handle.net/1765/58518 | |
| Nature Communications | |
| Organisation | Centre for Rotterdam Cultural Sociology (CROCUS) |
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Brotherton, P., Haak, W., Templeton, J. E., Brandt, G., Soubrier, J., Adler, C. J., … A. Cooper (Alan). (2013). Neolithic mitochondrial haplogroup H genomes and the genetic origins of Europeans. Nature Communications, 4. doi:10.1038/ncomms2656 |
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