Haplogroup M (mtDNA)

In human genetics, Haplogroup M is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup.

An enormous haplogroup spanning many continents, the macro-haplogroup M is a branch of the African haplogroup L3, and is believed to have originated in Africa some 60 to 80,000 years before present.

The two haplogroups M and N are believed to represent the initial migration of modern humans out of Africa. Haplogroup M in particular represents the dispersal of modern humans into the Middle East and South Asia some 60 to 80,000 years ago along the southern Asian coastline.

Among the subgroups of M are M1, C, D, E, G, Q, and Z.

Owing to its great age, haplogroup M is one of those mtDNA lineages which does not correspond well to present-day racial groups, as it spans Siberian, East Asian, Southeast Asian, Central Asian, South Asian, Melanesian as well as Ethiopian, Caucasian, and various Middle Eastern groups in lesser frequency.