rs17307656: Y-Chromosome Lineages and Ancestry
The genetic variant rs17307656, also designated in phylogenetic nomenclature as P282, is a single-nucleotide polymorphism located on the non-recombining portion of the human Y chromosome. Because it sits on the male-specific region of chromosome Y, it is passed strictly from father to son and serves as a classic lineage marker in population genetics. Research associates this variant with defining phylogenetic branches within Y-chromosome haplogroup P descendant lineages across Eurasia and the Americas.
What each genotype means
Y-chromosome haplogroup marker
This genotype is a specific marker used in genetic genealogy to identify membership in certain branches of Y-chromosome haplogroup P. Because this variant is located on the Y chromosome, it is passed directly from father to son and does not influence health or physical traits.
This genotype is found in specific Eurasian and Indigenous American lineages that descend from haplogroup P.
Y-chromosome haplogroup marker
This genotype is a specific marker used in genetic genealogy to identify membership in certain branches of Y-chromosome haplogroup P. Because this variant is located on the Y chromosome, it is passed directly from father to son and does not influence health or physical traits.
This genotype is found in specific Eurasian and Indigenous American lineages that descend from haplogroup P.
Y-chromosome haplogroup marker
This genotype is a specific marker used in genetic genealogy to identify membership in certain branches of Y-chromosome haplogroup P. Because this variant is located on the Y chromosome, it is passed directly from father to son and does not influence health or physical traits.
This genotype is found in specific Eurasian and Indigenous American lineages that descend from haplogroup P.
Genomic Location and Variant Characteristics
The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs17307656 represents an A-to-G transition located at position 15,916,781 on the Y chromosome (in GRCh38 coordinates). Because it resides in an intergenic region on the non-recombining portion of the Y chromosome (NRY), it is not located within any protein-coding gene and does not alter any biological peptide sequence. Unlike autosomal genetic variants, which are inherited from both parents and undergo crossing over during meiosis, variants on the non-recombining Y chromosome are inherited strictly along patrilineal lines as part of an unbroken genetic haplotype. In population genetics catalogs and genetic genealogy databases, rs17307656 is cataloged under the phylogenetic mutation label P282, identifying a specific branch along the global paternal phylogenetic tree.
Evolutionary Role in Haplogroup P Phylogeny
In human population history, haplogroup P (defined broadly within the macrohaplogroup K2b branch) represents one of the most consequential paternal lineages in Eurasia. Downstream clades descending from the broader haplogroup P family include haplogroups Q and R, which together encompass the patrilineal ancestries of substantial proportions of contemporary Europeans, Central and South Asians, Siberians, and Indigenous populations of the Americas. Single-nucleotide markers such as rs17307656 (P282) act as molecular clocks and phylogenetic signposts. By tracking whether an individual carries the ancestral allele or the derived allele at this locus, evolutionary geneticists trace the divergence, branching points, and geographic migrations of Paleolithic populations across northern Eurasia and through the Beringian corridor into the New World.
Scientific Evidence and Lack of Clinical Association
It is essential to distinguish ancestral lineage markers from functional disease-associated mutations. Current biomedical literature and genetic association databases, including ClinVar and the GWAS Catalog, do not link rs17307656 to any known disease, pharmacological response, or physiological trait. Its sole verified role in human genomics is phylogenetic and anthropological. Because rs17307656 does not fall within a functional gene coding region or a characterized regulatory sequence, the scientific consensus classifies it as a neutral marker. Geneticists leverage this neutrality because non-functional markers reflect pure demographic history, such as genetic drift, population splits, and migrations, without confounding selective pressures that might affect survival or reproductive fitness.
Understanding Ancestry Data and Test Limitations
Finding rs17307656 in raw genetic data or an ancestry report provides information exclusively about a direct paternal lineage—a straight father-to-son ancestral line extending back thousands of years. It does not provide information about maternal ancestors or any of the hundreds of autosomal ancestors that contribute to an individual's overall genetic makeup. Furthermore, because it sits exclusively on the Y chromosome, individuals who are biologically female (karyotypically XX) typically do not carry this variant or have a genotype call at this locus. Understanding this variant is primarily useful for individuals exploring genetic genealogy, regional migration history, and anthropological lineages, rather than predicting personal wellness, health risks, or medical outcomes.
How common is this variant?
Because rs17307656 is located on the male-specific region of the Y chromosome, it is carried solely by males; the derived allele is clade-defining in specific Eurasian and Native American haplogroup P descendant lineages.
Frequently asked questions
Does having the rs17307656 variant affect my health or disease risk?
No. The rs17307656 variant is an intergenic lineage marker on the Y chromosome with no documented medical, clinical, or pharmacological effects. It is utilized exclusively in anthropological and genealogical studies to map ancestral human migrations.
Why is only one allele reported instead of two for rs17307656?
Because rs17307656 is located on the non-recombining portion of the Y chromosome, biological males inherit only a single copy of this locus directly from their father. Genotypes for this locus are hemizygous (A or G) rather than heterozygous or homozygous pairs, though some commercial reports list them as double letters (AA or GG) for formatting consistency.
Can women have a result for rs17307656?
Typically, individuals with two X chromosomes (XX) will show no call or a missing genotype for rs17307656 because the locus resides on the male-specific Y chromosome. A female individual can trace this ancestral branch by analyzing the Y chromosome of a direct patrilineal male relative, such as a father or brother.
What is the relationship between rs17307656 and haplogroup P282?
In genetic genealogy and human phylogenetics, distinct mutations often receive scientific mutation names alongside their dbSNP accession numbers; rs17307656 is the cataloged identifier for the mutation designated as P282 in Y-chromosome phylogenetic trees.
Sources & further reading
Educational information only, last refreshed 9/8/2026. Not medical advice — these associations describe population statistics, not individual predictions.
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