Haplogroup K2a (Y-DNA)

Haplogroup K2a
Possible time of origin47,000 years BP (Estimated based on the immediate ancestor K2 originating 47,000–55,000 BP, and the secondary descendant NO approximately 38,000 to 47,000 BP.)
Possible place of originCentral Asia or Southeast Asia
AncestorK2 (M526)
DescendantsSole primary subclade:
K-M2313 (M2313);

Confirmed secondary subclades:

  • NO1 (a.k.a. NO-M214)
  • K-Y28394 (a.k.a. NO2)
  • K-FTC181
  • K-MF106925
Defining mutationsM2308, Z4842

Haplogroup K2a (M2308, Z4842) is a human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. K2a is a primary subclade of haplogroup K2 (M526), which in turn is a primary descendant of haplogroup K (M9). Its sole primary descendant is haplogroup K-M2313 (M2313, Z4858 S11799).

As of 2025, K-M2313 is known to have at least four primary subclades: Haplogroup NO1 (a.k.a. NO-M214), which has numerous members and the extremely rare subclades: K-Y28394, sometimes known as NO2, K-FTC181, and K-MF106925.

Basal, undivergent K2a* (K-M2308*) has only been found in the remains of two Upper Paleolithic individuals, known as "Ust'-Ishim man and "Oase-1", who lived in Siberia and the Banat region of south-central Europe, respectively, about 37,000 to 45,000 years ago.

The current existing branches of K-M2313 are all downstream of K-F549. It diversified into subclades like NO-M214 include a majority of living males in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Northern Eurasia. Rare subclades that do not belong to NO-M214 such as K-Y28299 has been found in individuals from India and Pakistan, K-F14963 has been found in individuals from the Toba Batak in Sumatra and the Mandar of Sulawesi. K-FTC181 and K-MF10925 has been found in individuals from Thailand and Vietnam respectively. These branches share a common ancestor with NO-M214 at K-F549.