MtDNA polymorphism in the Hungarians: comparison to three other Finno-Ugric-speaking populations

Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation as well as restriction site polymorphi sms were examined in 437 individuals from four Finno-Ugric-speaking populat ions. These included the Hungarians (Budapest region and the Csangos from H ungary and Romania), the Finns and two Saami groups from northeastern Finla nd (Inari Saami and Skolt Saami), and the Erzas from central Russia. The mt DNA data obtained in this study were combined with our previous data on Y c hromosomal variation for eight different loci in these populations. The gen etic variation observed among the Hungarians resembled closely that found i n other European populations. The Hungarians could not be distinguished fro m the neighboring populations (e.g., the Austrians) any more than from thei r Finno-Ugric linguistic relatives.