Haplogroup R, or R-M207, is a Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. It is both numerous and widespread amongst modern populations. Some descendant subclades have been found since pre-history in Europe, Central Asia and South Asia. Others have long been present, at lower levels, in parts of West Asia and Africa. Some authorities have also suggested, more controversially, that R-M207 has long been present among Native Americans in North America – a theory that has not yet been widely accepted. Karafet et al. and other researchers state that a "rapid diversification... of K-M526", also known as K2, into K2a and K2b , followed by K2b1 and P "likely occurred in Southeast Asia". This was followed by the relatively rapid "westward expansion" of P1 – the immediate ancestor of both Haplogroups Q and R.
Structure
Origins
, the immediate ancestor of Haplogroup R, likely emerged in Southeast Asia. The SNP M207, which defines Haplogroup R, is believed to have arisen during the Upper Paleolithic era, about 27,000 years ago. Only one confirmed example of basal R* has been found, in 24,000 year old remains, known as MA1, found at Mal'ta–Buret' culture near Lake Baikal in Siberia. It is possible that neither of the primary branches of R-M207, namely R1 and R2 still exist in their basal, undivergent forms, i.e. R1* and R2*. No confirmed case, either living or dead, has been reported in scientific literature. Despite the rarity of R* and R1*, the relatively rapid expansion – geographically and numerically – of subclades from R1 in particular, has often been noted: "both R1a and R1b comprise young, star-like expansions". The wide geographical distribution of R1b, in particular, has also been noted. Hallast et al. mentioned that living examples found in Central Asia included:
the "deepest subclade" of R-M269 – the most numerous branch of R1b in Western Europe, and;
Y-haplogroup R-M207 is common throughout Europe, South Asia and Central Asia. It also occurs in the Caucasus and Siberia. Some minorities in Africa also carry subclades of R-M207 at high frequencies. While some indigenous peoples of The Americas and Australasia also feature high levels of R-M207, it is unclear whether these are deep-rooted, or an effect of European colonisation during the early modern era.
R (R-M207)
Haplogroup R* Y-DNA was found in 24,000-year-old remains from Mal'ta in Siberia near Lake Baikal. In 2013, R-M207 was found in one out of 132 males from the Kyrgyz people of East Kyrgyzstan.
some scholars claim that this is partly or wholly the result of colonial-era immigration from Europe, whereas;
other authorities point to the greater similarity of many R-M173 subclades found in North America to those found in Siberia, suggesting prehistoric immigration from Asia and/or Beringia.
R2 (R-M479)
Haplogroup R-M479 is defined by the presence of the marker M479. The paragroup for the R-M479 lineage is found predominantly in South Asia, although deep-rooted examples have also been found among Portuguese, Spanish, Tatar, and Ossetian populations. One rare subclade may occur only among Ashkenazi Jews, possibly as a result of a founder effect.
