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Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in Chilean aboriginal populations: Implications for the peopling of the southern cone of the continent
Author(s) -
Moraga Mauricio L.,
Rocco Paola,
Miquel Juan F.,
Nervi Flavio,
Llop Elena,
Chakraborty Ranajit,
Rothhammer Francisco,
Carvallo Pilar
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/1096-8644(200009)113:1<19::aid-ajpa3>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - haplogroup , haplotype , subclade , mitochondrial dna , restriction fragment length polymorphism , human mitochondrial dna haplogroup , biology , genetics , evolutionary biology , phylogenetic tree , genotype , gene , clade
The mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) from individuals belonging to three Chilean tribes, the Mapuche, the Pehuenche, and the Yaghan, were studied both by RFLP analysis and D‐loop (control region) sequencing. RFLP analysis showed that 3 individuals (1.3%) belonged to haplogroup A, 19 (8%) to haplogroup B, 102 (43%) to haplogroup C, and 113 (47.7%) to haplogroup D. Among the 73 individuals analyzed by D‐loop sequencing, we observed 37 different haplotypes defined by 52 polymorphic sites. Joint analysis of data obtained by RFLP and sequencing methods demonstrated that, regardless of the method of analysis, the mtDNA haplotypes of these three contemporary South American aborigine groups clustered into four main haplogroups, in a way similar to those previously described for other Amerindians. These results further revealed the absence of haplogroup A in both the Mapuche and Yaghan as well as the absence of haplogroup B in the Yaghan. These results suggest that the people of Tierra del Fuego are related to tribes from south‐central South America. Am J Phys Anthropol 113:19–29, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.