R-Z253 Project- Background

Background

Welcome to the webpage for the R-L253 Project.

Z253 is a SNP at position 7253034 on the Y-chromosome. The ancestral allele at this position is G, whereas the Z253+ allele is A.

Z253 was initially discovered in two anonymous participants of the 1000 Genomes Project, namely samples HG01136 (Colombian) and NA19717 (Mexican-American). Z253 has since been found in FTDNA samples with ancestry from England, France, Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland.

Z253 is downstream of L21, so everybody who is Z253+ is also L21+ and hence is in the R-L21 subclade of the Haplogroup R1b. If you are L21- then you are Z253- (assuming that is, that the Z253 mutation has occurred only once).

If you are L21+ but negative for other SNPs that are downstream of L21 (especially DF21, DF23, L513 and Z255) then you may want to consider ordering a SNP test to determine whether you are positive or negative for Z253.

If you have ordered a test for Z253 then you are welcome to join this project. If you test positive for Z253 then you will be listed in an appropriate "Confirmed Z253+" group. Alternatively, if you test negative then you'll be added to the "Tested negative for Z253" group.

If you haven't been directly tested for Z253 but have instead tested positive for one of its descendant SNPs (so far L226, L554 and L895 are the only known descendants) then you are welcome to join this project. You should also join the R-L21 Project.

Here's how to order the SNP test to determine your Z253 status:

1. Login to your personal page at www.familytreedna.com.
2. Click on the orange "Order Upgrade" link at the right of the top menu.
3. Click on "Order an Advanced Test".
4. Choose "SNP" from the "Test Type" drop-down list.
5. Enter "Z253" in the "Marker" field and then click "Find".
6. Click "Add" to add the Z253 test to your shopping cart.
7. Click the "Next" button and then proceed to pay for the test.

And here's how to join the R-Z253 project:

1. Login to your personal page at www.familytreedna.com.
2. Click on "Join Projects" in the left-side menu.
3. Scroll down to the Y Haplogroup Projects and then click on the link for letter "R".
4. Scroll down and click on the link for "R-Z253".
5. Click the "Join" button that is at the lower right side of the screen.