[Variability of mitochondrial DNA in three groups of indigenous inhabitants of Northern Asia].
Sequence variants of the hypervariable region I of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 125 individuals from three aboriginal population groups of northern Asia (Yakuts, Evens, and Koryaks) were analyzed. Unique types of mtDNA (mitotypes) were discovered in 80% of Koryaks, 78% of Evens, and 59% of Yakuts. The mitotypes observed were clustered into nine phylogenetically related groups, two of which, according to the data on the comparative analysis of Siberian and east Asian populations, were Koryak-specific, and one was Even-specific. Koryaks and Evens exhibited mtDNAs that were highly frequent in Ainu. The results are discussed in terms of genetic differentiation and the ethnogenesis of ethnic groups of northern Asia.
Derenko
M V
MV
Institute of Biological Problems of the North (IBPN), Magadan, Russia, ibpn@ibpn.magadan.su
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GF
D001208:Asia; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D044469:Racial Groups
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial