The Origin of Modern North Africans as Depicted by a Massive Survey of Mitogenomes
Colombo et al. · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-12209-x
What the study found
This study represents the largest mitogenome survey of North African populations to date, analyzing 733 modern complete mitochondrial genomes alongside 43 ancient mitogenomes from across the region. The researchers reconstructed detailed phylogenetic trees for the major haplogroups found in North Africa.
The study confirmed and refined the distribution of haplogroup H1 subclades (H1v, H1w, H1x) across North Africa, showing distinct frequency patterns between western and eastern populations. These H1 subclades are considered markers of prehistoric European-to-North African migration, most likely arriving during the late Pleistocene or early Holocene.
Critically, the analysis demonstrated that female-mediated dispersals played a significant role in shaping North African genetic diversity, with multiple waves of maternal lineage movement detectable in the mitogenome data. The study also identified several previously uncharacterized sub-branches within established North African haplogroups.
Key points
Largest North African mitogenome study: 733 modern + 43 ancient complete mitochondrial sequences
Confirmed H1v, H1w, and H1x subclade distributions, with higher frequencies in western North Africa (Morocco, Algeria)
Female-mediated dispersals identified as a major factor in shaping North African genetic diversity
Multiple waves of maternal lineage movement detected, spanning from the late Pleistocene to the historical period
New sub-branches identified within established North African haplogroups, refining the phylogenetic tree
Relevance to this lineage
This study is directly relevant to the maternal H1-T16189C! lineage discussed throughout this site. The confirmation of H1 subclade distributions in western North Africa, with particular concentration in Morocco, aligns precisely with the patterns described on our Lineage History page.
The finding that H1 subclades arrived via female-mediated dispersals supports the migration model presented in our analysis: H1 lineages likely traveled from the Franco-Cantabrian refuge through Iberia and across the Strait of Gibraltar into North Africa during the late Pleistocene or Neolithic period.
The study's scale provides statistical confidence in the H1 frequency patterns observed in the Souss-Massa and broader Moroccan Amazigh (Berber) populations, strengthening the evidence base for the dual paternal-maternal lineage model central to this project.
This is a summary, not the paper
Written here as an aid to reading. Where this page and the study disagree, the study is right — read it. Full citation: Colombo, G. et al. (2025). Scientific Reports . All fifteen summaries are listed on the research page.
Last updated: 16 September 2026