Mitochondrial DNA transit between West Asia and North Africa inferred from U6 phylogeography.

ABSTRACT:

Background

World-wide phylogeographic distribution of human complete mitochondrial DNA sequences suggested a West Asian origin for the autochthonous North African lineage U6. We report here a more detailed analysis of this lineage, unraveling successive expansions that affected not only Africa but neighboring regions such as the Near East, the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands.

Results

Divergence times, geographic origin and expansions of the U6 mitochondrial DNA clade, have been deduced from the analysis of 14 complete U6 sequences, and 56 different haplotypes, characterized by hypervariable segment sequences and RFLPs.

Conclusions

The most probable origin of the proto-U6 lineage was the Near East. Around 30,000 years ago it spread to North Africa where it rep

SUBMITTER: Maca-Meyer N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC270091 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature