Overview
Haplogroup K (M9) is one of the most consequential paternal lineages in human evolutionary history. Emerging after the initial dispersals of modern humans across Eurasia, K gave rise to an enormous radiation that today includes the majority of paternal lineages across Europe, Siberia, Central Asia, East Asia, Oceania and the Americas. K represents a major demographic and genetic shift: a phase of rapid diversification occurring among Upper Paleolithic populations in South or Southeast Asia. This expansion set the stage for the emergence of the large and dominant macro-lineages N, O, Q and R, as well as the important Australasian branches of K1 and K2b.
Geographic distribution
Modern K* lineages are rare but appear sporadically across South Asia, Island Southeast Asia, Oceania and Central Asia. Most K diversity has been absorbed into downstream lineages that form major world populations.
Ancient DNA
- Upper Paleolithic genomes from Southeast Asia show basal K-related ancestry.
- Ancient individuals from Sahul and Wallacea exhibit early branching K lineages.
- Early Eurasian hunter-gatherer genomes contain structures linking to the K → NOQR radiation.
Phylogeny & subclades
K splits into two major trunks: K1 (Australasian–Melanesian centered) and K2. K2 is further divided into K2a and K2b, ultimately giving rise to NO (and subsequently N & O), and QR (leading to Q and R).
Notes & context
K is the foundational node for most modern Eurasian paternal haplogroups.
References & external links