Bayesian Coalescent Inference Of Major Human MtDNA Haplogroup Expansions In Africa

Studies of human genetic diversity are revealing an increasingly detailed picture of our first steps towards colonizing the globe. Methods from population genetics can now provide evidence for ancient human population expansions.


Here we investigate population expansions within four major human mitochondrial DNA lineages in Africa. We find that the L3 lineage, the only lineage with descendents outside Africa, underwent a major expansion 8-12ky prior to the emergence of its non-African descendents.


This suggests humans did not simply spill out of Africa, but were driven as part of an expansion that had begun on the continent thousands of years earlier.


Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences


Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.


Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences