Mitochondrial DNA Portrait of Latvians: Towards the Understanding of
the Genetic Structure of Baltic-Speaking Populations.
Authors: Pliss, L.
liana@...
Tambets, K.
ktambets@...
Loogväli, E.-L.1
Pronina, N.2
Lazdins, M.3
Krumina, A.4
Baumanis, V.5
Villems, R.1
Source: Annals of Human Genetics; Jul2006, Vol. 70 Issue 4, p439-458, 20p
Document Type: Article
Subject Terms: *CHROMOSOMES -- Analysis
*GENETIC polymorphisms
*LANGUAGE & languages
*LATVIANS
*MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
*POPULATION genetics
*GENETIC markers
*GENETIC screening
Author-Supplied Keywords: mitochondrial DNA
population genetics
haplogroups
Latvians
Baltic-speaking populations
Abstract: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation was investigated in a
sample of 299 Latvians, a Baltic-speaking population from Eastern
Europe. Sequencing of the first hypervariable segment (HVS-I) in
combination with analysis of informative coding region markers
revealed that the vast majority of observed mtDNAs belong to
haplogroups (hgs) common to most European populations. Analysis of the
spatial distribution of mtDNA haplotypes found in Latvians, as well as
in Baltic-speaking populations in general, revealed that they share
haplotypes with all neighbouring populations irrespective of their
linguistic affiliation. Hence, the results of our mtDNA analysis show
that the previously described sharp difference between the
Y-chromosomal hg N3 distribution in the paternally inherited gene pool
of Baltic-speaking populations and of other European Indo-European
speakers does not have a corresponding maternal counterpart. [ABSTRACT
FROM AUTHOR]
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute of
Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu and Estonian
Biocentre, Tartu, Estonia
2Latvian State Medical Genetics Centre, Riga, Latvia
3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of
Latvia, Riga, Latvia
4Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
5Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
ISSN: 0003-4800
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.2005.00238.x
Accession Number: 20923843