Brotherton, P.Haak, W.Templeton, J.Soubrier, J.Adler, C.Richards, S.Dersarkissian, C.Cooper, A.2013-09-242013-09-242013Nature Communications, 2013; 4(1764):1-112041-17232041-1723http://hdl.handle.net/2440/80204Haplogroup H dominates present-day Western European mitochondrial DNA variability (>40%), yet was less common (~19%) among Early Neolithic farmers (~5450 BC) and virtually absent in Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. Here we investigate this major component of the maternal population history of modern Europeans and sequence 39 complete haplogroup H mitochondrial genomes from ancient human remains. We then compare this 'real-time' genetic data with cultural changes taking place between the Early Neolithic (~5450 BC) and Bronze Age (~2200 BC) in Central Europe. Our results reveal that the current diversity and distribution of haplogroup H were largely established by the Mid Neolithic (~4000 BC), but with substantial genetic contributions from subsequent pan-European cultures such as the Bell Beakers expanding out of Iberia in the Late Neolithic (~2800 BC). Dated haplogroup H genomes allow us to reconstruct the recent evolutionary history of haplogroup H and reveal a mutation rate 45% higher than current estimates for human mitochondria.en© 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reservedGenographic ConsortiumHumansSequence Analysis, DNAGenetics, PopulationDemographyEvolution, MolecularPhylogenyBase SequenceHaplotypesGenome, HumanPrincipal Component AnalysisTime FactorsMolecular Sequence DataGenome, MitochondrialWhite PeopleJournal article002012746410.1038/ncomms26560003188721001212-s2.0-8487778084820150Haak, W. [0000-0003-2475-2007]Soubrier, J. [0000-0001-9350-7369]Richards, S. [0000-0002-0202-9654] [0000-0002-7604-2368]Cooper, A. [0000-0002-7738-7851]