MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA VARIATION IN NATIVE SIB ERIANS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF AMERICAN-INDIANS STUDIES ON RESTRICTION POLYMORPHISM

Restriction polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) isolated from th e blood of 107 Koryaks, 28 Northern Altaians, and 23 Kets was studied. The results were compared with similar data that in aggregate charact erized haplotypes df 569 individual DNAS from 13 Siberian populations, in order to elucidate the genetic similarity and differences between mtDNA haplogroups of native Siberians and Americans. Natives of Siberi a are distinguished by the significant variation of the composition an d frequency of three (A, C, and D) of four haplogroups characteristic of American Indians. In the full composition; all four haplogroups - A , B, C, and D are found only in a sample of Northern Altaians. The pec uliarities of their geographical distribution in Asia allow us to cons ider the southern regions of Siberia and the adjacent territories of C entral and East Asia as the site inhabited by the ancestors of the fir st wave of migrants to North America.