rs1426654

A SNP in the SLC24A5 gene on chromosome 15. Its most notable genotype is A;A: probably light-skinned, European ancestry

Gene
SLC24A5
Location
Chr 1548,134,287 (GRCh38)
Highest magnitude
2.7Worth knowing
Tested on
23andMe, AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA
Minor allele frequency
48%

Genotypes

As shown in 23andMe and AncestryDNA files.

  1. A;AMost notableNot ratedprobably light-skinned, European ancestryWorth knowing · 2.730% of people
  2. A;GNot ratedmixed European + (African or Asian) ancestry possibleWorth knowing · 2.515% of people
  3. G;GNot ratedprobably darker-skinned, Asian or African ancestryWorth knowing · 2.655% of people

On SNPedia: (A;A), (A;G), (G;G). Magnitude rates how notable a genotype is from 0 to 10, not how risky it is.

Frequency

Share of each genotype in 11 HapMap populations.

  • AverageA;A 30% A;G 15% G;G 55%
  • European ancestry (Utah)A;A 100% A;G 0% G;G 0%
  • Han Chinese (Beijing)A;A 0% A;G 4% G;G 96%
  • Japanese (Tokyo)A;A 0% A;G 2% G;G 98%
  • Yoruba (Nigeria)A;A 0% A;G 3% G;G 97%
  • African ancestry (Southwest US)A;A 0% A;G 32% G;G 68%
  • Chinese (Denver)A;A 0% A;G 6% G;G 94%
  • Gujarati IndianA;A 89% A;G 11% G;G 0%
  • Luhya (Kenya)A;A <1% A;G 13% G;G 86%
  • Mexican ancestry (Los Angeles)A;A 33% A;G 49% G;G 18%
  • Maasai (Kenya)A;A 10% A;G 45% G;G 46%
  • TuscanA;A 99% A;G 1% G;G 0%

Other SLC24A5 SNPs

All SLC24A5 SNPs

Notes

From SNPedia

Show notes, about 240 words

This SNP influences skin pigmentation. The allele, A111T, rs1426654(A), indicates light-skinned West Eurasian ancestry. PMID 16847698, PMID 16357253 It appears as if this SNP is a relatively new one in human evolution; one estimate is that the rs1426654(A) allele, in other words, light skin pigmentation, spread through the European population around 6,000 - 12,000 years ago. Prior to that, "European ancestors" were most likely relatively brown-skinned. Another study () has concluded that almost individuals carrying the A111T variant can trace ancestry back to a single person who most likely lived at least 10,000 years ago. This SNP is one of three from the SLC24A5 gene that can be analyzed to categorize the ancestry of a person as either West Eurasian (Middle Eastern, Caucasian, European, etc.), African, or East Eurasian, based on a 2009 study. The 3 SNPs are: * rs1426654 * rs2555364 * rs16960620 A genome-wide association scan in admixed Latin Americans identifies loci influencing facial and scalp hair features

A;A

This SNP influences skin pigmentation and indicates indicates light-skinned European ancestry. estimates that the rs1426654(A) allele (light skin pigmentation) spread through the European population around 6,000 - 12,000 years ago. Prior to that, "European ancestors" were most likely relatively brown-skinned.

A;G

This G is not found in European populations. Suggests at least half ancestry with African or Asian populations.

References

Source and license

Adapted from rs1426654 on SNPedia, using a snapshot taken October 16, 2026. SNPedia content is shared under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US, and this page is shared under the same license.

SNPedia is a community-edited wiki. Its entries can be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and nothing here is a diagnosis or medical advice. Magnitude is a community rating of how interesting a genotype is, not a risk score.