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Q-Z780 (Pre-Clovis founding lineage of the Americas)
Q-Z780 is one of the two major founding branches of Q1a that formed the ancestral paternal pool of the Americas. Evidence suggests that Q-Z780 diverged from the broader Q1a lineage during the Beringian standstill and arrived in the Americas extremely early—possibly before or during initial pre-Clovis expansions. Q-Z780 is strongly represented in ancient DNA and remains widespread among North and South American Indigenous groups.
Q-Z780 is found in North American populations such as Algonquian-speaking groups, as well as in multiple regions of Central and South America, including the Andes and parts of Amazonia. Its presence across such a wide range reflects the earliest dispersal routes following the entry into the Americas.
Z780 splits into several branches including Z781, Z782, Y2816 and other downstream clades. These lineages trace regional expansions within both North and South America, providing key resolution for indigenous population structure.
Q-Z780 is essential for reconstructing pre-Clovis and early Clovis demographic patterns and remains one of the central lineages for mapping Indigenous American paternal history.