Overview
N1a3 is a rare but phylogenetically distinct branch within the N1a radiation. It diverged early from the main N1a line and preserves an independent trajectory of paternal ancestry within the broader north Eurasian domain. Although its present day frequency is very low, N1a3 is important because it documents an additional strand of N diversity that did not participate in the major Finno Ugric or Ob Ugrian expansions carried by N1a1 and N1a2. Its age places it among late Upper Paleolithic or early Holocene foraging communities in northern or northeastern Eurasia.
Geographic distribution
Confirmed N1a3 lineages are scattered at low frequency across northern Eurasia. Individuals have been reported in datasets from eastern Europe and Russia, as well as from parts of central and east Asia. No single modern population is dominated by N1a3, which instead appears as isolated paternal lines embedded within larger N1a1, N1a2 or other haplogroup backgrounds.
Ancient DNA
- Because of its rarity, N1a3 has not yet been frequently identified in named ancient individuals, but tree age estimates indicate that it is old enough to have been present among Mesolithic and early Neolithic populations of northern Eurasia.
- Its deep position within N1a suggests that N1a3 may represent lineages that remained in peripheral or low density regions rather than joining the large expansions that shaped modern Uralic and Siberian populations.
- Future high coverage ancient genomes from forest–steppe and taiga zones are likely to clarify the prehistoric distribution of N1a3.
Phylogeny & subclades
N1a3 is defined by a cluster of SNPs including F1228, F1774, F1921, F1993, F2729, F3145 and F4089. Within this branch, current data indicate several low diversity subclusters, but sample numbers are still too small to robustly define many named subclades. N1a3 sits alongside N1a1 and N1a2 as a third internal branch of N1a.
- N1a3a (provisionally defined small daughter branch)
- Additional minor N1a3* lineages with very limited sampling
Notes & context
N1a3 is best understood as a relic branch of the early N1a radiation. Its low modern frequency and broad but sparse distribution underline how much of the original N diversity has been reshaped by later expansions and bottlenecks. As with other rare clades, interpretations should remain cautious until more Y sequencing data are available.
References & external links