title: Mitochondrial diversity in Amerindian Kichwa and Mestizo populations from Ecuador.
abstract: This study presents mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data from 107 unrelated individuals from two of the major ethnic groups in Ecuador: Amerindian Kichwas (n = 65) and Mestizos (n = 42). We characterized the diversity of the matrilineal lineages of these Ecuadorian groups by analyzing the entire mtDNA control region. Different patterns of diversity were observed in the two groups as result of the unique historical and demographic events which have occurred in each population. Higher genetic diversity values were obtained for the Mestizo group than for the Amerindian group. Interestingly, only Native American lineages were detected in the two population samples, but with differences in the haplogroup distribution: Kichwa (A, 49%; B, 3%; C, 8%; and D, 40%) and Mestizo (A, 33%; B, 33%; C, 10%; and D, 24%). Analysis of the complete mtDNA control region proved to be useful to increase the discrimination power between individuals who showed common haplotypes in HVSI and HVSII segments; and added valuable information to the phylogenetic interpretation of mtDNA haplotypes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. mbaeta@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baeta
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolea
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Casalod
authors.forename: Fabricio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González-Andrade
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roewer
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martínez-Jarreta
mesh_terms: D001801:Blood Stains; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004484:Ecuador; D053803:Forensic Genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial