Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Northwest African populations reveals genetic exchanges with European, Near-Eastern, and sub-Saharan populations

Genetic studies have emphasized the contrast between North Africas and sub- Saharan populations, but the particular affinities of the North African mtD NA pool to that of Europe, the Near East, and sub-Saharan Africa have not p reviously been investigated. me have analysed 268 mtDNA control-region sequ ences from various Northwest African populations including several Senegale se groups and compared these with the mtDNA database. We have identified a few mitochondrial motifs that are geographically specific and likely predat e the distribution and diversification of modern language families in North and West Africa. A cel tain mtDNA motif (16172C, 16219G), previously found in Algerian Berbers at high frequency, is apparently omnipresent in Northw est Africa and may reflect regional continuity of more than 20 000 years. T he majority of the maternal ancestors of the Berbers must have come from Eu rope and the Near East since the Neolithic. The Mauritanians and West-Sahar ans, in contrast; bear substantial though not dominant mtDNA affinity with sub-Saharans.