Genetic Ancestor - human migrations

Soon after the appearance of Mitochondrial Eve around 150,000 years ago, an early expansion of modern humans populated much of Africa, around 100,000 years ago.

The early mtDNA branches from this first expansion can still be found today, particularly in the KhoiSan-speakers (also known as the 'Bushmen') of Southern Africa and in the Biaka (western pygmies) of Central Africa.

We refer to these earliest branches of mtDNA as L0 and L1 lineages, and all subsequent groups are also labelled with a letter.

Somewhat confusingly, mtDNA branches are often referred to as haplogroups (a “haplogroup” is of course an mtDNA branch, or if you prefer, a female genetic “surname” or “Daughter of Eve”, not a group of people).

About 60,000 years ago a single founder group moved out of Africa and their descendants, through the natural process of mutation, formed the branches M and N.

Their descendants in turn gained footholds during the Ice Age in Asia, Australia and parts of Europe and evolved their own specific types.

So, today, Europe is populated by the branches H, I, J, K, T, U, V, W and X; Asia by A, B, C, D, E, F, G, M, and Y; the Americas by the Asian branches A, B, C, D and X ; Papua New Guinea by P and Q; and Australia by further M and N types.

Everyone in the world fits into one of these mtDNA branches or matrilines. Each one of these matrilines has a fascinating story to tell about its role in the population of the world.

Genetic Ancestor's service enables you to identify your very own matriline, and investigate your ancestral origins.

	Ancient migrations and your personal roots
Advances in genetics and mathematics now allow us to reconstruct the routes that our earliest ancestors took when first settling the world. And it is not only the routes that geneticists can work out, but also the approximate dates when the continents and islands were settled. We do this mathematically by investigating natural mutations in mitochondrial DNA. Our research over the past decade revealed that Ice Age conditions played a major role in shaping human diversity, and the incredible genetic story has since been confirmed by a number of recent archaeological discoveries. Some of this human story is told in the map below.
Click the map to start the tour

Soon after the appearance of Mitochondrial Eve around 150,000 years ago, an early expansion of modern humans populated much of Africa, around 100,000 years ago. The early mtDNA branches from this first expansion can still be found today, particularly in the KhoiSan-speakers (also known as the 'Bushmen') of Southern Africa and in the Biaka (western pygmies) of Central Africa. We refer to these earliest branches of mtDNA as L0 and L1 lineages, and all subsequent groups are also labelled with a letter. Somewhat confusingly, mtDNA branches are often referred to as haplogroups (a “haplogroup” is of course an mtDNA branch, or if you prefer, a female genetic “surname” or “Daughter of Eve”, not a group of people). About 60,000 years ago a single founder group moved out of Africa and their descendants, through the natural process of mutation, formed the branches M and N. Their descendants in turn gained footholds during the Ice Age in Asia, Australia and parts of Europe and evolved their own specific types. So, today, Europe is populated by the branches H, I, J, K, T, U, V, W and X; Asia by A, B, C, D, E, F, G, M, and Y; the Americas by the Asian branches A, B, C, D and X ; Papua New Guinea by P and Q; and Australia by further M and N types. Everyone in the world fits into one of these mtDNA branches or matrilines. Each one of these matrilines has a fascinating story to tell about its role in the population of the world. Genetic Ancestor's service enables you to identify your very own matriline, and investigate your ancestral origins.