Haplogroups

1. Haplogroups

2. Haplogroup
• A human haplogroup is a group of people
that share a common ancestor. We
determine this based on the group sharing
a particular genetic mutation.

3. Haplogroups
• As a haplogroup only share one
particular ancestor, it is possible for
people of the same haplogroup to look
very physically different from one
another.

4. Crossing over in homologous
chromosomes

5. Crossing Over
• Crossing over means that
chromosomes “switch” chunks of DNA.
• So each generation has a different
combination of genes from mother and
father on their autosomes (and a
woman’s two X chromosomes.

6. The X and Y Chromosome

7. Y-chromosome
• The Y chromosome is inherited virtually
unchanged from father to son. In other
words, a male’s Y chromosome is the
same as his father’s father’s father’s
father. The only differences that emerge
are from random mutations.

8. The Y-Chromosome

9. Mitochondrial DNA
• Mitochondrial DNA is a separate set of
DNA inherited only from our mothers. It
is passed down to sons and
daughters…but only daughters pass it
on to the next generation.

10. Mitochondrial DNA

11. The Y-Chromosome and
Mitochondrial DNA
• The Y-Chromosome and Mitochondrial
DNA are used to group people into
haplogroups…which can give us clues
as to when and where different groups
migrated.