Haplogroup L0 (mtDNA)

In human genetics, Haplogroup L0 is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup.

Confusingly, some scientists use L0 to refer to an extinct haplogroup, while other scientists have identified haplogroups L0-L6 as existing in living humans [For example, " [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1182106 Ethiopian Mitochondrial DNA Heritage: Tracking Gene Flow Across and Around the Gate of Tears] " states "Because (preHV)1 lineages occur in populations of the Near East, the Caucasus, and Mediterranean Europe—where African L0-L6 lineages are absent or rare—it is more likely that their presence in East Africa reflects a back-migration from the Near East rather than an in situ origin of (preHV)1 in Ethiopia (Richards et al. 2003)."] .

As extinct

Some scientists use L0 to refer to an extinct haplogroup. For example, one commercial testing company states, "Another haplogroup, L0, preceded L1, but is long since extinct." [ [http://www.genetree.com/ancestral/maternalAncestryInfo.php GeneTree Haplogroup Table] ] In this model, L1 is considered the haplogroup from which all living humans are descended.

As existing today

Some scientists use L0 to refer to the first offshoot of Mitochondrial Eve, estimated to have lived in Africa approximately 150,000 to 170,000 years ago. Haplogroup L0 consist of four main branches (L0d, L0k, L0a, L0f). All of them were originally classified into haplogroup L1 as L1d, L1k, L1a and L1f.

Haplogroups L0d and L0k are typical for Khoisan tribes in South Africa.

Haplogroup L0a is most prevalent in South-East African populations (25% in Mozambique). [cite journal
quotes = no
last = Rosa
first = A
coauthors = Brehm A, Kivisild T, Metspalu E, Villems R
year = 2004
month = July
title = MtDNA Profile of West Africa Guineans: Towards a Better Understanding of the Senegambia Region
journal = Annals of Human Genetics
volume = 68
issue = 4
pages = 340–52
doi = 10.1046/j.1529-8817.2004.00100.x
pmid = 1522515
accessdate = ] Among Guineans, it has a frequency between 1% and 5%, with the Balanta group showing increased frequency of about 11%. Haplogroup L0a has a Paleolithic time depth of about 33,000 years and likely reached Guinea between 10,000 and 4,000 years ago.

Haplogroup L0f is present in relatively small frequencies in East Africa.

References

:4. A. Knight et al.: African Y Chromosome and mtDNA Divergence Provides Insight into the History of Click Languages. Current Biology, Vol. 13, 464–473, March 18, 2003, http://www.stanford.edu/~sylpha/Knight_2003.pdf

See also

*Human mitochondrial genetics
*Genealogical DNA test

External links

* [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1529-8817.2004.00100.x MtDNA Profile of West Africa Guineans: Towards a Better Understanding of the Senegambia Region] : "Based on the previous knowledge of African complete sequences paraphyletic clade L1 is split into two monophyletic units L0, capturing previously defined L1a and L1d lineages, and L1 clade that includes L1b and L1c clades..."
* [http://jgv.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/86/5/1315 Utility of JC polyomavirus in tracing the pattern of human migrations dating to prehistoric times] : "The first axis of mtDNA, on the other hand, places the ancestral haplogroup L0 at the extreme left, since it gave rise to one sole lineage..."
* [http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/humu.10304 Mitochondrial DNA-like sequences in the nucleus (NUMTs): Insights into our African origins and the mechanism of foreign DNA integration] (requires subscription): "haplogroup L0 mtDNAs, the haplogroup that we had previously concluded lies at the base of the human mtDNA. tree based on phylogenetic analysis..."