Reconstructing Human History Using Autosomal, Y‐Chromosomal and Mitochondrial Markers

Abstract

By analysing genetic variation between and within extant human populations it is possible to make inferences about the origins and relationships of our ancestors. Although the autosomes give us a representative account of genomic history in humans, the unique characteristics of the maternally inherited mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) and the paternally inherited Y chromosome can provide information about the histories specific to women and men. Current evidence suggests a recent African origin for modern humans <200 thousand years ago (KYA) and a single small migration out of Africa 50–70 KYA, with progressive loss of diversity with distance from Africa, somewhat complicated by sex‐specific effects and natural selection.