Order of precedence and age of Y-DNA haplotypes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a physics-inspired method to determine the order of precedence and estimate the age of Y-DNA haplotypes by analyzing frequency ratios of related haplotypes in genetic databases.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach using probability ratios and hyperbolic dependence to infer haplotype precedence and age from small, incomplete datasets.

Findings

Method successfully determines haplotype precedence in simulated data.

Applicable to small, incomplete genetic samples.

Provides estimates of haplotype age based on frequency ratios.

Abstract

A simple method, inspired by procedures used in physics of nuclear multifragmentation, allows to establish order of precedence and age of pairs of haplotypes separated by one mutation. For both haplotypes of the pair, searches for existing haplotypes, differing by increasing number of mutations, are carried out using a database. The resulting ratios of frequences of haplotypes, found at given mutation distances, are compared to calculated probability ratios. The order of precedence and age of the pair of haplotypes can be deduced when the resulting ratios follow hyperbolic dependence. Method can be used with relatively small and not necessarily complete samples, using publicly accessible databases.