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Haplogroup K1

K1-M147

Macro-haplogroup

Parent clade

Formed (estimate)

c. 45,000–50,000 years before present

TMRCA (estimate)

c. 30,000–35,000 years ago

M147
M2308
Z25314

Overview

K1 represents a primarily southern dispersal branch of Haplogroup K and is closely associated with early populations moving along the coastal and island corridors of South and Southeast Asia. It contributed to the paternal ancestry of several early Melanesian and Wallacean groups, making it important for understanding the demographic layers predating major K2a and K2b expansions.

Geographic distribution

Modern K1 branches appear in low frequencies in India, Sri Lanka, island Southeast Asia, Papua, and Melanesia. Some isolated occurrences exist in Australia, likely due to ancient coastal migrations rather than recent gene flow.

Ancient DNA

Early Holocene individuals in Wallacea carry ancestral K1 signatures.
Some ancient Melanesian samples show low-level K1 substructure.
South Asian forager genomes reveal early branching patterns linked to K1 diversification.

Phylogeny & subclades

K1 contains two major internal branches: K1a and K1b. Their present-day rarity reflects ancient isolation combined with replacement by later expansions of K2-derived lineages.

Notes & context