- Recorded origin
- East Africa
- Estimated formation
- ~50,000 years ago
The lineage library
Haplogroup Explorer
Explore the branches that connect human lineages. Search a haplogroup, browse the tree, or start with a featured paternal or maternal branch.
- Y-DNA haplogroups
- 1,680
- mtDNA haplogroups
- 3,237
- Ancient sample links
- 16,364
- Publication links
- 0
Find a haplogroup
Search by code, name or alias. Try R1b, H or U5a1.
Explore the collection
Understanding haplogroupsChoose a lineage
Featured Y-DNA branches
A starting point for exploring the collection.
- Recorded origin
- Near East / Caucasus
- Estimated formation
- ~30,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- Europe
- Estimated formation
- ~25,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- Near East
- Estimated formation
- ~45,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- North Eurasia
- Estimated formation
- ~45,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- North Eurasia
- Estimated formation
- ~30,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- Eurasian Steppe
- Estimated formation
- ~22,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- Eurasian Steppe or West Eurasia
- Estimated formation
- ~20,000 years ago
Featured mtDNA branches
A starting point for exploring the collection.
- Recorded origin
- Near East / West Asia
- Estimated formation
- ~25,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- Near East
- Estimated formation
- ~45,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- Near East / Anatolia
- Estimated formation
- ~16,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- The Near East, with significant dispersal into Europe and parts of Central Asia
- Estimated formation
- ~27,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- Eurasia, particularly in Europe and the Near East, with ancient roots tracing back to early hunter-gatherer populations. It has several subclades spread across Europe, South Asia, and North Africa
- Estimated formation
- ~46,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- Western Europe, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula and surrounding regions, with some presence in Northern Africa and parts of Scandinavia
- Estimated formation
- ~14,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- The Near East and South Asia, with dispersal into Europe and Central Asia
- Estimated formation
- ~20,000 years ago
- Recorded origin
- The Near East, with spread into Europe, Central Asia, and North America
- Estimated formation
- ~10,000 years ago
Reading the evidence
A branch is one part of the story.
A shared haplogroup indicates a shared lineage branch. It does not establish descent from a particular ancient individual or define cultural identity.
- 01Genetic markers
- Haplogroup branches are defined by genetic variants. More specific subclades describe finer branches within the tree.
- 02Related branches
- The tree shows how haplogroups relate to one another. Explore parent and child branches to put a code in context.
- 03Dates and places
- Formation dates and recorded origins are estimates. Linked ancient samples and publications provide context, with uneven coverage across branches.