More specifically in descending order, G-M406 is a subbranch also of G2 (P287), G2a (P15) and finally G2a2b (L30/S126) Haplogroup G-M406 seems most common in Turkey and Greece.
A large number of G-M406 persons have the value of 21 at short tandem repeat (STR) marker DYS390, and all G-M406 men will have the M406 SNP mutation which characterizes this group.
Some estimate of G-M406 percentages can be made, however, by noting the percentage of men with STR marker G samples which have the distinctive 21 value at DYS390 found almost exclusively among G persons within G-M406 and making use of samples tested at commercial labs and in research papers.
[18] Just to the south of Turkey among the Kurds of Iraq 7 of 14 likely G STR samples in the YHRD database have the value of 21 at DYS390 suggesting half the G population there belongs to G-M406.
Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine also have significant G-M406 populations though small sample sizes make broad conclusions difficult.
[18] None of the G samples among the Druze peoples in these locations have STR marker values typical of G-M406 persons according to recent studies.
[23] Of note regarding G-M3302 among the Hui is that all 5 testers actually belong to a much deeper subclade found only (for now) in Shangdong Province.
But the percentage of G-M406 (based on the 21 value) would seem higher than in Iran in Dubai with half of 6 G samples with 21.
[28] This source has more reliability in identifying the totality of G-M406 samples because it does not rely on the value at STR marker DYS390 as the sole criterion.
[30] Possibly of significance, half of these "21" samples were found in the asylum land of the ancient Sardinian population in the isolated central highlands which has no evidence of occupation by external colonial powers beginning with the Phoenician period.
[33] Estimated Age : 7800 YBP [34] Descendant branches: G-L645, G-Z17886 G2a2b1a1b2a is characterized by possessing the SNP mutation designated as L645.
It was found at chromosome position 2948673 and represents a mutation from A to C. Inside Z17887 there is a cluster of G-M406 men who have the unusual (for G-M406 men) value of 14 at STR marker DYS436 instead of the ancestral 12 value This is so far a relatively small cluster with ancestral histories confined to Galicia and Basque country in Spain and to various parts of Portugal.
Too few samples are available to estimate with some reliability when the common male ancestor of this cluster may have lived.. NB : According to familytree DNA M406 collaborative project at least 10 samples have the value of 14 at DYS436 and are not identified as Basque, Portuguese nor Galician Estimated Age : 7800 YBP [35] Descendant branches: G-Z17084, G-Z45043 G2a2b1a1a is characterized by possessing the SNP mutation designated either as L14 or S130.
But this mutation was first identified at the University of Central Florida in 2006 as U16 and well before the associated researchers published a formal description in 2009 of its location at 21327383 on the Y chromosome, reference number rs35474563.
It is possible there are persons who are positive (derived) for either L14/S130 while negative (ancestral) for L90/S133, and such a situation would necessitate creating a separate G-M406 category.
[38] The oldest G-S9350 sample known lived in Kaman Kalehöyük, Kırşehir Province in Turkey around 3650 year ago.
[41] Estimated Age : 8700 YBP [42] Descendant branch: G-PF3296 There is a cluster of G-M406 men belonging to the G2a2b1b - PF3293 subgroup who (1) have the unusual (for G-M406 men) value of 12 at STR marker DYS454 instead of the ancestral 11 value (2) and have a relatively close genetic distance when 67 markers are compared.
This DYS454 STR marker is not as reliable as a SNP mutation for categorizing men, but the 12 value plus other uncommon features and the close genetic distance make is certain this a distinct subgroup.
A few persons who belong to this cluster may have had more recent ancestors who mutated to a value other than 12, but such samples have not surfaced.
This cluster seems overwhelmingly made up of three identifiable ethnic groups (a) Ashkenazi Jews based on distinctive surnames together with ancestral origins in northeastern Europe south of Scandinavia, (b) Conversos with Hispanic surnames and (c) Men with Italian ancestral origins.
The first great trading empire that joined both ends of the Mediterranean was the Phoenician that originated in the Israel-Lebanon-Jordan area.
After the demise of the Phoenicians, the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and some "barbarians" could have spread G-M406 from the eastern Mediterranean to the west.
Based on the number of mutations observed, some of these probably share common male ancestors as recently as the Dark Ages.
The sharing of common ancestors much farther back in time (perhaps 3,500 years ago) among some of these samples does not provide information so useful because the migration westward could have occurred anytime in the earlier period.