Neolithic mitochondrial haplogroup H genomes and the genetic origins of Europeans

Posted by James Bowery on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 14:53.

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.

It has long been the case that ancient DNA studies have focused attention on mtDNA and then gone on to make sweeping claims about the rest of the DNA. Since mtDNA is among the least correlated with consanguinity of human DNA and Y-Chromosome the most, this is, at best, a highly suspect way of determining national* origins. When confronting these sweeping imputations, the (15 years or so) old excuse for this has been that mitochondria are numerous in comparison to nuclear DNA, and that therefore ignorance of the Y-Chromosome data is “understandable”. The problem is this merely excuses ignorance—it does not excuse sweeping imputation based on the ignorance.

However, even the excuse for ignorance is no longer valid given the fact that entire genomes are being reconstructed from samples far older than neolithic.

What excuse can Brotherton et al, or their apologists offer for this ignorance?

*Nation: People related by consanguinity and congeniality—contrasted with Nation State

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Posted by Donald on Fri, 24 May 2013 23:31 | #

Razib Khan tells us to ignore mtDNA data and Y-Chromosome data:

“Please ignore mtDNA and Y chromosomal haplogroups”

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2013/05/please-ignore-mtdna-and-y-chromosomal-haplogroups/

This is a public service announcement. If you are a user of direct-to-consumer personal genomics services, please do not pay any attention to your mtDNA and Y chromosomal haplogroups. Why? Because they hardly tell you anything about your individual ancestry. What do I mean by this? Your mtDNA comes down from your mother’s-mother’s-mother’s-mother… and similarly for your Y chromosomal lineage if you are a male. These few individuals are not any more likely to contribute to your ancestry than all those multitudes and multitudes who do not contribute to your mtDNA or Y lineages