Save on Family FinderY-DNA, mtDNA, and Bundles during our Early Bird Sale! Now through November 24th.

Q-M3

A Y-DNA Haplogroup Project for Native American Q-M3 and descendant clades
  • 966 members

About us

The settlement of the Americas has been the focus of continuous debate for more than 100 years, and open questions regarding temporal and spatial patterns of colonisation remain. Phylogenetic studies utilising complete Y chromosomal sequencing are a highly informative tool for investigating the history of human populations within a given temporal period. To study the phylogenetic relationships of Native American lineages and infer the settlement history of the Americas, we analyse the Y-haplogroup Q, which is a Pan-American haplogroup and represents practically all Native American lineages in North, Central, and South America. Haplogroup Q-M3 is one of the Y chromosome haplogroups associated with the indigenous peoples of the Americas (>90% of the indigenous peoples of Meso and South America). Currently, such lineages include other Q-M242 branches (Q-M346, Q-L54, Q-P89.1, Q-NWT01, and Q-Z780), haplogroup C-M130 branches (C-M217 and C-P39), and R-M207 are found almost exclusively in North America. Haplogroup Q-M3 is defined by the presence of the (M3) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Q-M3 arose in the Q-L54 lineage approximately 10 to 15,000 years ago, when migration to the Americas was underway. Although there is debate as to which side of the Bering Strait this mutation occurred, there is no doubt that it occurred in the ancestors of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Q-M3-carrying populations are spread throughout the Americas. Since the discovery of Q-M3, several subclades of Q-M3-bearing populations have also been discovered in the Americas. Subclades Q-M19 and Q-M199 appear to be unique to South American populations, suggesting that population isolation and perhaps even the establishment of tribes began shortly after migration to the Americas. Kennewick Man has a Y chromosome that belongs to the most common subclade Q1b1a1a-M3, while Anzick's Y chromosome belongs to the minor he-Q1b1a2-M971 lineage. Q-M19 M19 This lineage is found in indigenous South American tribes such as the Ticuna and Wayuu peoples. M19 has been detected in 59% of Tikuna men and 10% of Wayuu men in the Amazon. Origin: South America approximately 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. Q-M194 This lineage is only found in South American populations. Q-M199 This lineage is only found in South American populations. Q-PAGES104 This strain was discovered by a research group at the Whitehead Institute led by Dr. David C. Page. Only limited demographic information is known. Q-PAGES131 This strain was discovered by a research group at the Whitehead Institute led by Dr. David C. Page. Only limited demographic information is known. Q-L663 This strain was discovered by citizen scientists. It is associated with the indigenous peoples of central Mexico and with the Otomi people (Hñähñús, they call themselves) of Hidalgo, Mexico (Gómez et al, 2021). Q-L663's paternal line was formed around 550 BC. The most recent common ancestor of this lineage, a male, is estimated to have been born around 1250 AD. Extensive research on this haplogroup has been conducted by members of the New Mexico Genealogical Society, with at least 16 NGS Y-DNA tests performed on him as of 2023. The earliest known genealogical record of a descendant of Q-L663 was from a man named Nicolas de Espinosa. He was born around 1673 in Villa de los Lagos, Nueva Galicia, Mexico. Gómez, R., Villar, M.G., Meraz-Rios, M.A., Bellis, D., Zuniga, G., Hernández-Tobias, E.A., Figueroa-Corona, M., Owings, A.C., Gaieschi, J.B., Schull, T.G. , (2021). His Y chromosome diversity in the descendants of Aztlan and its impact on the history of central Mexico, iScience, 24(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102487 Q-SA01 This strain was discovered by a research group led by Dr. Theodore G. Schull. Q-L766 This strain was discovered by citizen scientists. It may be associated with indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Q-L883 This strain was discovered by citizen scientists. Q-L888 This strain was discovered by citizen scientists.