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Haplogroup C1a2

C1a2-F1370

Macro-haplogroup

Parent clade

C1a

Formed (estimate)

c. 35,000–40,000 years before present

TMRCA (estimate)

c. 12,000–15,000 years ago

F1370
Z31875
Z31865

Overview

C1a2 is a rare but phylogenetically informative branch of the C1a lineage that traces its ancestry to Upper Paleolithic coastal hunter-gatherer populations of East Asia. While closely related to the Jōmon-associated C1a1 branch, C1a2 diverged earlier and appears to represent a lineage that persisted in more diffuse coastal groups stretching from southeast China into the northern Pacific rim.

Geographic distribution

Modern occurrences are extremely rare. Low frequencies are recorded in Japan, coastal China, Taiwan and occasionally in Korea. Its fragmented distribution reflects ancient population turnover across the East Asian coastline.

Ancient DNA

Some Paleolithic remains in coastal East Asia show paternal markers clustering near upstream C1a2.
Genomic continuity with early Holocene coastal foragers is detectable in downstream branches.
A minority of Jōmon individuals exhibit basal C1a2 affinity, indicating early shared ancestry.

Phylogeny & subclades

C1a2 is defined by F1370 and Z31875. Downstream branching is limited due to small effective population sizes and repeated regional bottlenecks.

C1a2a
C1a2*

Notes & context