W3, together with W4, W5, and W6 originated with a 194 mutation. W3 is identified by the coding region 01406 mutation. A further 15784 mutation defines W3a; and a further 13263 mutation W3a1. The 13263 mutation is the same coding region change at 13263 used to define Haplogroup C. Therefore testing done to place results in a haplogroup, even if only HVR1 and/or HVR2 are tested completely, allows individuals to be identified by as W3 (actually W3a1) in their results. However if a person has the basic 16223 16292 16519 pattern in HVR1, and has the 194 mutation in HVR2, they may provisionally be considered to be W3 as well.
W3's seem to have originated among the horse-domesticating cultures of the Asian steppes south of the Aral Sea. From there they spread via Russia into Europe, the Balkans, Anatolia, and then to Palestine and Arabia. Another branch went over the Khyber Pass into eastern India.
How to Read These Phylogenetic Trees
The major families are:
- W3 with the 00199 HVR2 mutation and 12923 coding region mutation. One branch of this family migrated into Europe, showing the 16129 HVR1 mutation, with variants found in Hungary (with an additional 16192 mutation) and Greece (with an additional loss of 16292 mutation). The other migrated into India, with coding region-only mutations.
- W3a with the distinctive 16209 and 16255 HVR1 mutations (and loss of the 194 mutation in HVR2). The basic family extends from Turkmenistan through Romania to France. This 'French W' haplotype then leapt to America via Marie Marguerie. One branch with an additional 16192 mutation is found in the Ukraine.
- W3a1, defined by the 13263 mutation as noted above. This is the most widespread, found from Central Asia to India, then from Central Asia through Russia to Poland, Germany, and then Sweden, France.
- W3a1 with HVR1 mutations 16234 and 16245. This is found in Germany and Norway.
- W3a1a, defined by the 07151 mutation.
- W3a1a with the loss of 16292 and a 16093 mutation in HVR1. This is found in Russia, Poland, and Finland.
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