[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.
Institute of Biological Problems of the North (IBPN), Magadan, Russia, ibpn@ibpn.magadan.su
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Derenko
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Shields
D001208:Asia; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D044469:Racial Groups
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial