Y-DNA Haplogroup B and its Subclades
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Version History     Last revision date for this specific page: 9 October 2006

Because of continuing research, the structure of the Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree changes and ISOGG does its best to keep the tree updated with the latest developments in the field. The viewer may observe other versions of the tree on the Web. Email Alice Fairhurst if the differences need clarification.

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CLADE/SUBCLADE SYMBOLS:  Added  Renamed 
SNP SYMBOLS:  Not on 2005 tree  Confirmed within subclade  Provisional  Private

B   M60, M181
�       B*   -
�       B1   M236, M288
�      �       B1*   -
�      �       B1a   M146 (formerly B1)
�       B2   M182
�      �       B2*   -
�      �       B2a   M150
�      �       �       B2a*   -
�      �       �       B2a1   M218
�      �       �      �       B2a1*   -
�      �       �      �       B2a1a   M109, M152, P32 (formerly in B2a1)
�      �       �       B2a2   M108.1
�      �       �      �       B2a2*   -
�      �       �      �       B2a2a   M43
�      �       B2b   M112, M192, 50f2
�      �       �       B2b*   -
�      �       �       B2b1   P6
�      �       �       B2b2   M115, M169
�      �       �       B2b3   M30, M129
�      �       �      �       B2b3*   -
�      �       �      �       B2b3a   M108.2
�      �       �       B2b4   P7
�      �       �      �       B2b4*   -
�      �       �      �       B2b4a   P8
�      �       �      �       B2b4b   MSY2.1, M211

Y-DNA haplogroup B, like Y-DNA haplogroup A, is seen only in Africa and is scattered widely, but thinly across the continent. These haplogroups have higher frequencies among hunter-gather groups in Ethiopia and Sudan, and are also seen among click language-speaking populations. The patchy, widespread distribution of these haplogroups may mean that they are remnants of ancient lineages that once had a much wider range but have been largely displaced by more recent population events.

Some geographic structuring is seen between the sub-groups B2a (B-M150) and B2b (B-M112). Sub-group B2b is seen among central African Pygmies and South African Khoisan. Sub-group B2a is seen among Cameroonians, east Africans, and among South African Bantu speakers. B2a1a (B-M109) is the most commonly seen sub-group of B2a. About 2.3% of African-Americans belong to haplogroup B - with 1.5% of them belonging to the sub-group B2a1a.

References:

Cruciani et al, A Back Migration from Asia to Sub-Saharan Africa Is Supported by High-Resolution Analysis of Human Y-Chromosome Haplotypes. (pdf) American Journal of Human Genetics, 70:1197-1214, 2002.
Regueiro et al, Iran: Tricontinental Nexus for Y-Chromosome Driven Migration. (abstract) Human Heredity, Vol. 61, No 3, 132-143, 2006.
Semino et al, Ethiopians and Khoisan Share the Deepest Clades of the Human Y-Chromosome Phylogeny. (pdf) American Journal of Human Genetics, 70:265-268, 2002.
Valone et al, Y SNP Typing of African-American and Caucasian Samples Using Allele-Specific Hybridization and Primer Extension. (pdf) Journal of Forensic Science, 49:4, July 2004.

Corrections/Additions made since 10 April 2006:

Contact Person for Haplogroup B: Dennis Garvey

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