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Mitochondrial diversity in Amerindian Kichwa and Mestizo populations from Ecuador

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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.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Jorge González-Solórzano, Omar Vacas, and Sarah Zweynert for the support in the fieldwork. This research paper is part of a research initiative and network called EQGen Project, Ecuadorian Ethnogenetics.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

    Miriam Baeta, Carolina Núñez, Cecilia Sosa, Miguel Bolea, Yolanda Casalod & Begoña Martínez-Jarreta

  2. Science and Technology Department, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador

    Fabricio González-Andrade

  3. Department of Forensic Genetics, Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Lutz Roewer

Authors
  1. Miriam Baeta
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  2. Carolina Núñez
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  3. Cecilia Sosa
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  4. Miguel Bolea
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  5. Yolanda Casalod
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  6. Fabricio González-Andrade
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  7. Lutz Roewer
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  8. Begoña Martínez-Jarreta
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Correspondence to Miriam Baeta.

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Baeta, M., Núñez, C., Sosa, C. et al. Mitochondrial diversity in Amerindian Kichwa and Mestizo populations from Ecuador. Int J Legal Med 126, 299–302 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-011-0656-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-011-0656-4

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