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I-M223 Y-DNA Haplogroup

ISOGG Y-DNA Haplogroup I2a1b1 (was I2a2a & earlier I2b1)
  • 5981 members

About us

This project is dedicated to the Y-DNA study of persons testing derived (positive) for the M223 SNP or predicted as such. This currently places us in Haplogroup I and the sub-haplogroup I-M223 (I2-M223) or I2a1b1 (previously known as I2a2a and earlier as I2b1 and I1c). If you are predicted as I-M253 then you want the Haplogroup I1 Project.

The I-M223 Y-DNA Haplogroup Project will provide Researchers and I-M223 Project Members with an organized layout of project STR markers results with project members assigned to proper subclades, which are defined by specific SNP's. The assignment of members to subclades will be done, where possible, in accordance with the Cullen/Nordtvedt predictive tool but mainly FT DNA individual SNP testing, SNP Packs testing and Big Y-500 or Big Y-700 testing. The Big Y-700 is a new test not an upgrade of Big Y-500. It has around 50% more coverage of the Y-Chromosome than previous Big Y tests. It tests for known SNPs and discovers new SNP mutations that define your own paternal line and reports on up to 700 STR markers. If you order the Big Y-700 test you should not need to carry out any further Y-DNA testing at FT DNA. You may choose to have the analysis of your Big Y raw data BAM file done by a third party such as YFull or Full Genomes Corp (FGC). Please consult with a Project administrator.

As Project Administrators, we are doing our best to make everyone's genealogical research easier by organizing these SNP's and understanding the history of the I-M223 Haplogroup. Eventually we will arrive at a point where we can match specific SNP's to specific surnames going all the way back on the SNP tree to the emergence of M223. Actually we have arrived at this now with the Big Y-700 testing at FT DNA and the Y sequencing at Full Genomes Corp and YSEQ. FT DNA is assigning names to new SNPs found and where shared these appear on their Haplotree as a new branch. Raw data BAM files can also be analysed by YFull.com and also Full Genomes Corp. We will then have both a historical and geographical understanding of this haplogroup and all the human beings who have belonged to it. Because we know how valuable all this information is, we cannot be dissuaded from this goal.

We know this project is on the right path. The I-M223 tree is incredibly old, approximately 17,400 years old and our surviving lines are much, much older than in the I1 Haplogroup, for example. FT DNA and YFull are now analysing ancient Y-DNA and public Y-DNA samples. These ancient samples are revealing new and ancient branch nodes and branches. One such ancient branch node is called I-P222 just downstream of I-M223. It also includes the SNPs, P220 and P221 so some members that were shown as I-M223 may now appear as I-P222, I-P220 or I-P221. In other words, we can expect a much more complex tree. In March of 2011, we had only six known SNP's downstream from M223. If you look at the Haplotree for I-M223, you will see there are at least 1,136 SNP branches as of October 2020. We are working with ISOGG, YFull and FT DNA and others to get this new knowledge officially recognized. It will be beneficial to every male who is M223+.

As you can see, we are on the right path to accomplish our goal: match specific SNP's to specific clan groups and surnames going all the way back on the SNP tree to the emergence of M223, many thousands of years ago.

Join us in this Age of Genetic Discoveries!

Helpful Links:


I-M223 Project Activity Feed discussion page

ISOGG Haplotree Structure Index

YFull Y-Tree for I-M223

Y-DNA Haplogroup I-M223 Facebook group page

Haplogroup I Subclade Predictor Tool