Overview
Q-M3 is the principal paternal founding lineage of Indigenous peoples across North, Central and South America. Emerging shortly after the divergence of ancestral Beringian populations, Q-M3 underwent an explosive expansion synchronized with the earliest successful settlement of the American continents. Archaeogenetic evidence shows that M3-derived lineages were present during both pre-Clovis and Clovis periods, and their descendants continue to dominate the Y-chromosome landscape of the Americas.
Geographic distribution
Q-M3 shows extremely high frequencies among Native American groups from Canada to Patagonia. It occurs in Algonquian, Iroquoian, Na-Dene, Andean, Mesoamerican and Amazonian populations. In modern Eurasia Q-M3 appears only at very low levels, often as back-migrations or isolated Siberian traces.
Ancient DNA
- The Anzick-1 Clovis child (~12,600 BP) belonged to a Q-M3 downstream lineage, demonstrating deep antiquity.
- Ancient genomes from both North and South America show continuity with Q-M3-related lineages over 10,000+ years.
- The timing of M3 expansion matches the earliest widespread archaeological signatures of the initial human dispersal across the Americas.
Phylogeny & subclades
Q-M3 contains numerous downstream branches including Q-M848, Q-Y4300, Q-Y4276, Q-Z19400 and multiple Amazonian and Andean-specific clades. Its star-like branching pattern reflects rapid demographic growth during initial continental settlement.
- Q-M848
- Q-Y4300
- Q-Y4276
- Q-Z19400
Notes & context
Q-M3 is the dominant paternal lineage of Native American populations and a key marker for understanding early human migration into the Western Hemisphere.
References & external links