TYPES OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA CONTROL REGION IN EASTERN SLAVS

Nucleotide sequences of hypervariable segment I (HVS I) of the mitocho ndrial DNA (mtDNA) control region were determined for 23 eastern Slavs residing in Magadan, northeastern Asia. A high diversity of HVS I typ es was observed: each mtDNA analyzed has a unique nucleotide sequence. The types of HVS I revealed were shown to be widespread in the Caucas ian population. Eight types of HVS I are identical to those in Caucasi ans from the Middle East and southern Europe. Taking into account the data obtained on mtDNA types in the world Caucasian population, the pr oblem of the origin and differentiation of peoples of the Indo-Europea n language family is discussed.