MTDNA VARIATION INDICATES MONGOLIA MAY HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE FOR THE FOUNDING POPULATION FOR THE NEW-WORLD

mtDNA RFLP variation was analyzed in 12 Mongolians from Ulan Bator. Al l four founding lineage types (A [4.76%], B [2.38%], C [11.9%], and D [19.04%]) identified by Torroni and colleagues were detected. Seven of the nine founding lineage types proposed by Bailliet and colleagues a nd Merriwether and Ferrell were detected (A2 [4.76%], B [2.38%], C1 [1 1.9%], D1 [7.14%], D2 [11.9%], X6 [16.7%], and X7 [9.5%]). Sixty-four percent of these 42 individuals had ''Amerindian founding lineage'' ha plotypes. A survey of 24 restriction sites yielded 16 polymorphic site s and 21 different haplotypes. The presence of all four of the foundin g lineages identified by the Torroni group (and seven of Merriwether a nd Ferrell's nine founding lineages), combined with Mongolia's locatio n with respect to the Bering Strait. indicates that Mongolia is a pote ntial location for the origin of the founders of the New World. Since lineage B, which is widely distributed in the New World, is absent in Siberia. we conclude that Mongolia or a geographic location common to both contemporary Mongolians and American aboriginals is the more like ly origin of the founders of the New World.