An Updated Phylogeny of mtDNA Haplogroup R8 Based on Complete Mitogenomes

Abstract Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences reveal maternal phylogeny to trace back the demographic histories to construct phylogeny of a population. In this study, we update the phylogeny of the autochthonous Indian-specific mtDNA haplogroup R8 to give regional relationships between the members of haplogroup R8 in India and neighbouring areas. A set of 31 complete mitogenomes sequences from a Melakudiya tribal population of Southern India revealed two subclades of R8-R8a and R8b clustered with other tribal and caste populations of India. The updated coalescence age of haplogroup R8 in South Asia is dated ~43.3 ± 8.1 Kya, subclades R8a and R8b are dated ~40.6 ± 8.8 Kya and 15.4 ± 4.3 Kya, respectively. This study updated the deep in situ distribution of Indian-specific R8 lineages and added new daughter branches to the previously described branches of the haplogroup R8 in India