My maternal haplogroup is M5a2a. Maternal haplogroups are determined by sets of genetic variants in a tiny, unusual loop of DNA called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). M5a2a is relatively uncommon among 23andMe customers (1 in 5300). M5a2a, traces back to a woman who lived approximately 11,500 years ago. That's nearly 460 generations ago! My paternal haplogroup is H-M69. H-M69 is relatively uncommon among 23andMe customers (1 in 1500). My paternal line stems from a branch of haplogroup H called H-M69. This lineage originated near to or within India between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago. It remains common there today, especially in the southeastern coastal state of Andhra Pradesh. It is almost unknown outside of India. Males receive a copy of father's Y chromosome along with a gene known as SRY (short for sex-determining region Y ) that is important for male sexual development.