Relative contributions of the Caucasoid and Mongoloid components to the formation of ethnic groups of the Volga-Ural region as estimated from DNA polymorphism

For the first time, an attempt was made to quantitatively estimate the rela tive contributions of major racial components to populations of the Volga-U ral region based on the data on allelic polymorphisms of nine loci of the m itochondrial and nuclear genomes. Comparison of the proportions of Caucasoi d and Mongoloid characteristics in the gene pools of Bashkirs, Tatars, Chuv ashes, Maris, Mordovians, Udmurts, and Komis revealed a heterogeneous patte rn. Data on the proportions of major racial components in the nuclear genom e indicated that the Caucasoid component was maximum in Mordovians, Komis, and Udmurts. Mongoloid characters were most prevalent in Bashkirs, Maris, T atars, and Chuvashes. Data on restriction-deletion polymorphism of mitochon drial DNA (mtDNA) also indicated an increased Caucasoid contribution to Mor dovian, Udmurt, and Komi gene pools and an increased Mongoloid component in Chuvashes and Tatars. In general, the results obtained agree with ethnic a nthropological data indicating the greatest Caucasoid contribution to the M ordovian and Komi gene pools and an increased Mongoloid component in Turkic populations of the Volga-Ural region (Bashkirs, Tatars, and Chuvashes).