Haplogroup L3 (mtDNA)

In human genetics, Haplogroup L3 is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup.

Origin

L3 is believed to have arisen between 84,000 to 104,000 years ago.

Distribution

It is most common in East Africa, in contrast to others parts of Africa where the haplogroups L1 and L2 represent two thirds of mtDNAs.

L3 is sub-divided into several clades, one of which is believed to have spawned the macro-haplogroups M and N from which the vast majority of non-Africans are descended.

One of these lineages, defined by loss of the DdeI site at np 10394, represents only a few percent of the African mtDNAs but appears to be the progenitor of roughly half of all European, Asian and Native American mtDNAs."

According to Maca-Meyer et al. (2001), "L3 is more related to Eurasian haplogroups than to the most divergent African clusters L1 and L2". L3 is the haplogroup from which all modern humans outside of Africa derive.

Subgroups distribution

Subhaplogroup L3b - West Africa

Subhaplogroup L3d - West Africa

Subhaplogroup L3e5 - Moroccan Arabs, South Moroccan, Berbers, and Algerians

Subhaplogroup L3f3 - Chad Basin, Central Africa

Subhaplogroup L3x - Ethiopia, Oromos

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