The central Siberian origin for Native American Y chromosomes

Y chromosomal DNA polymorphisms were used to investigate Pleistocene male m igrations to the American continent. In a worldwide sample of 306 men, we o btained 32 haplotypes constructed with the variation found in 30 distinct p olymorphic sites. The major Y haplotype present in most Native Americans wa s traced back to recent ancestors common with Siberians, namely, the Kets a nd Altaians from the Yenissey River Basin and Altai Mountains, respectively . Going further back, the next common ancestor gave rise also to Caucasoid Y chromosomes, probably from the central Eurasian region. This study, there fore, suggests a predominantly central Siberian origin for Native American paternal lineages for those who could have migrated to the Americas during the Upper Pleistocene.