There is a debate concerning geographical origins of Haplogroup M and its sibling haplogroup N. Both lineages are thought to have been the main surviving lineages involved in the out of Africa migration (or migrations) because all indigenous lineages found outside Africa belong to haplogroup M or haplogroup N. Yet to be conclusively determined is whether the mutations that define haplogroups M and N occurred in Africa before the exit from Africa or in Asia after the exit from Africa. Determining the origins of haplogroup M is further complicated by the fact that it is found in Africa and outside of Africa. (source)

M72 (source)
Age: 13,200 ±9,800(Behar et al. 2012b)
Origin: Undetermined
Mutations: T1872C A14233G A15644G C15820T A16166d C16214T
Parent Branch: M
Descendant branch(s): M72

M72a (source)
Age: Undetermined
Origin: Undetermined
Mutations: A12753G
Parent Branch: M72
Descendant branch(s): ?