LACK OF FOUNDING AMERINDIAN MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA LINEAGES IN EXTINCT ABORIGINES FROM TIERRA-DEL-FUEGO PATAGONIA

Ancient DNA from bones and teeth of 60 individuals from four extinct h uman populations from Tierra del Fuego-Patagonia (Selknam, Yamana, Kaw eskar and Aonikenk) has been extracted and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDN A) amplified by using the polymerase chain reaction, High-resolution a nalysis of endonuclease restriction site variation in the mtDNA and se quencing of its hypervariable non-coding control region, revealed comp lete absence of two of the four primary mitochondrial haplotype groups present in contemporary Amerinds, namely A and B, In contrast, haplog roups C and D were found in all but one sample with frequencies of sim ilar to 38% and 60%, These results, together with the decreasing incid ence of group A in more southerly latitudes in the American continent and the absence of cluster a above 55 degrees North in America and Asi a, argue that the first settlers entering America 21 000-14 000 years ago already lacked both mtDNA lineages.