# Haplogroup **Domain:** Population Genetics / Genealogy **Doc Type:** Canonical Concept Node **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition A **haplogroup** is a genetic lineage defined by shared inherited variants, commonly used for mitochondrial DNA or the Y chromosome. It locates samples within branching genealogies inferred from mutation and descent. ## Evidence Boundary A haplogroup represents only one lineage channel and a small portion of a person's ancestry. It does not define ethnicity, culture, nationality, personality or the total set of one's ancestors. [[articles/The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley|The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley]] connects consumer haplogroup reports to Berkeley's molecular-evolution work. The important movement is from sequence to inference: an observed variant becomes historical evidence only through population models and reference data. ## Continuity Context Haplogroups establish descent, not sameness. They are therefore a clean example for [[wiki/Descent vs Derivation|Descent vs Derivation]] and the limits of biological provenance in reconstructed-person claims. ## Sources / Provenance - National Human Genome Research Institute genetics glossary: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary - International Society of Genetic Genealogy resources: https://isogg.org/ ## See Also [[wiki/Population Genetics|Population Genetics]], [[wiki/Mitochondrial Eve|Mitochondrial Eve]], [[wiki/Consumer Ancestry Testing|Consumer Ancestry Testing]], [[wiki/Proof of Descent|Proof of Descent]]