Haplogroup R-M124

Haplogroup R2a is also known as haplogroup R-M124.^[2] The first reference to the newly defined haplogroup, "R-M124", was on 25 August 2010.^[4]

Before the publication of the 2005 Y-Chromosome Phylogenetic Tree, Haplogroup R-M124 was known as Haplogroup P1 and formerly thought to be a sister clade of Haplogroup R rather than derived from it.^[5]

Haplogroup R2 most often observed in Asia, especially on the Indian sub-continent and Central Asia.^[5] It is also reported at notable frequencies in Caucasus.

According to Sengupta et al. (2006),

uncertainty neutralizes previous conclusions that the intrusion of HGs R1a1 and R2 [Now R-M124] from the northwest in Dravidian-speaking southern tribes is attributable to a single recent event. Rather, these HGs contain considerable demographic complexity, as implied by their high haplotype diversity. Specifically, they could have actually arrived in southern India from a southwestern Asian source region multiple times, with some episodes considerably earlier than others.

Paragroup is a term used in population genetics to describe lineages within a haplogroup that are not defined by any additional unique markers. They are typically represented by an asterisk (*) placed after the main haplogroup.

Y-chromosomes which are positive to the M124, P249, P267, and L266 SNPs and negative to the L295, L263, and L1069 SNPs, are categorized as belonging to Paragroup R-M124*. It is found in Iraq, so far.

Haplogroup R-L295 is a Y-chromosome haplogroup characterized by genetic marker L295. It is found in South Asia, Anatolia, Arabian Peninsula, Europe, & Central Asia so far.

Haplogroup R-L263 is a Y-chromosome haplogroup characterized by genetic marker L263. It is found in Greek Asia Minor & Armenia so far.^[6]

Haplogroup R-L1069 is a Y-chromosome haplogroup characterized by genetic marker L1069. It is found in Kuwait so far.^[6]

R-M124 is most often observed in Asia, especially on the Indian sub-continent and in Central Asia^[5] It is also reported at notable frequencies in Caucasus.

Ancient samples of haplogroup R2a were observed in the remains of humans from Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age Iran and Turan; and Iron Age South Asia. R2a was also recovered from excavated remains in the South Asian sites of Saidu Sharif and Butkara from a later period.^[7]

Haplogroup R-M124, along with haplogroups H, L, R1a1, and J2, forms the majority of the South Asian male population. The frequency is around 10-15% in India and Sri Lanka and 7-8% in Pakistan. Its spread within South Asia is very extensive, ranging from Baluchistan in the west to Bengal in the east; Hunza in the north to Sri Lanka in the south.

Among regional groups, it is found among West Bengalis (23%), New Delhi Hindus (20%), Punjabis (5%) and Gujaratis (3%).^[8]Among tribal groups, Karmalis of West Bengal showed highest at 100% (16/16)^[9] followed by Lodhas (43%)^[10] to the east, while Bhil of Gujarat in the west were at 18%,^[11] Tharus of north showed it at 17%,^[12] Chenchu and Pallan of south were at 20% and 14% respectively.^[9][13] Among caste groups, high percentages are shown by Jaunpur Kshatriyas (87%), Kamma Chaudhary (73%), Bihar Yadav (50%), Khandayat (46%)and Kallar (44%).^[9]

It is also significantly high in many Brahmin groups including Punjabi Brahmins (25%), Bengali Brahmins (22%), Konkanastha Brahmins (20%), Chaturvedis (32%), Bhargavas (32%), Kashmiri Pandits (14%) and Lingayat Brahmins (30%).^{[11][14][12][9]}

North Indian Muslims have a frequency of 19% (Sunni) and 13% (Shia),^[14] while Dawoodi Bohra Muslim in the western state of Gujarat have a frequency of 16% and Mappila Muslims of South India have a frequency of 5%.^[15]

The R2 haplogroup in the northern regions of Pakistan is found among Burusho people (14%), Pashtuns (10%) and Hazaras (4%).^[16][13]

In southern regions, it is found among Balochis (12%), Brahuis (12%) and Sindhi (5%).^[13]

The R2-M124 haplogroup occurs at a considerably higher rate in the northern regions of Afghanistan (11.4%).^[17] Although the true percentage remains debated, the haplogroup is known to be at elevated levels in the Pamiri population (number ranges from 6-17% depending on the group). One study on Nuristanis shows a 20% frequency of R2 (1/5), albeit with a small sample size.^[18]

38% of the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka were found to be R2 positive according to a 2003 research.^[8]

In Kazakh tribes it varies from 1% to 12%, however it is found at a higher percent at about 25% among Tore Tribe / Genghis Khans descendant tribe.^[19]

In Central Asia, Tajikistan shows Haplogroup R-M124 at 6%, while the other '-stan' states vary around 2%. Bartangis of Tajikistan have a high frequency of R-M124 at about 17%, Ishkashimi at 8%, Khojant at 9% and Dushanbe at 6%.

Specifically, Haplogroup R-M124 has been found in approximately 7.5% (4/53) of recent Iranian emigrants living in Samarkand,^[20] 7.1% (7/99) of Pamiris,^[20] 6.8% (3/44) of Karakalpaks,^[20] 5.1% (4/78) of Tajiks,^[20] 5% (2/40) of Dungans in Kyrgyzstan,^[20] 3.3% (1/30) of Turkmens,^[20] 2.2% (8/366) of Uzbeks,^[20] and 1.9% (1/54) of Kazakhs.^[20]

A 2011 genetic study found R-M124 in 6.7% of Han Chinese from western Henan, 3.4% of Han Chinese from Gansu and 2.1% to 4.2% of Uyghurs from Xinjiang.^[21]

In a 2014 paper, R-M124 has been detected in 0.9% (1/110) of Han Chinese samples from China. The sample belonged to an individual from Jilin province.^[22]

The haplogroup R-M124 frequency of 6.1% (6/114) was found among overall Kurds^[23] while in one study which was done with 25 samples of Kurmanji Kurds from Georgia, R-M124 has been observed at 44% (11/25)^[24]

In Caucasus high frequency was observed in Armenians from Sason at 17% (18/104)^[25] while it was observed at %1 in Armenians from Van. R2 has been found in Chechens at 16%.^[26] R-M124 has been found in approximately 8% (2/24) of a sample of Ossetians from Alagir.^[27]

In the Caucasus, around 16% of Mountain Jews, 8% of Balkarians,^[28] 6% of Kalmyks,^[29] 3% of Azerbaijanis,^[26] 2.6% of Kumyks,^[30] 2.4% of Avars,^[30] 2% of Armenians,^[26] and 1% to 6% of Georgians^[26][28][31] belong to the R-M124 haplogroup. Approximately 1% of Turks^[32] and 1% to 3% of Iranians^[33] also belong to this haplogroup.

In Iran R-M124 follows a similar distribution as R1a1 with higher percentages in the southeastern Iran. It has been found at Frequencies of 9.1% at Isfahan, 6.9% at Hormozgan and 4.2% in Mazandaran.^[34]

In the R2-M124-WTY and R-Arabia Y-DNA Projects,^[6][42] Haplogroup R-M124 has appeared in the following Arab countries: Kuwait (3 clusters), United Arab Emirates (1 cluster), Syrian Arab Republic (1 cluster), and Tunisia (1 cluster).

Thus, Haplogroup R-M124 has been observed among Arabs at low frequencies in 11 countries/territories (Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen) of the 22 Arab countries/territories so far. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia so far has one family identified to have Haplogroup R2A (R-M124) of its paternal genome or Y-Chromosome updated 5 January; 2018.

Haplogroup R-M124 is a subgroup of Haplogroup R-M479 (M479):

• R-M479 (M479)
  • R-M124 (M124, P249, P267, L266)
    • R-L295 (L295)
    • R-L263 (L263)
    • R-L1069 (L1069)

Haplotype can be used to predict haplogroup. The chances of any person part of this haplogroup is the highest if DYS391=10, DYS392=10 and DYS426=12.

• Genetics and Archaeogenetics of South Asia: R1a1 and R2
• Genealogical DNA test

• Spread of R2
• The India Genealogical DNA Project
• R2 Y-Chromosome Haplogroup DNA Project
• Digging into Haplogroup R2 (Y-DNA)
• R2-M124-WTY (Walk Through the Y) Project
• R-Arabia Y-DNA Project
• List of R2 frequency