The ancestry of Brazilian mtDNA lineages

We have analyzed 247 Brazilian mtDNAs for hypervariable segment (HVS)-I and selected restriction fragment-length-polymorphism sites, to assess their a ncestry in different continents. The total sample showed nearly equal amoun ts of Native American, African, and European matrilineal genetic contributi on but with regional differences within Brazil. The mtDNA pool of present-d ay Brazilians clearly reflects the imprints of the early portuguese coloniz ation process (involving directional mating), as well as the recent immigra nt waves (from Europe) of the last century. The subset of 99 mtDNAs from th e southeastern region encompasses nearly all mtDNA haplogroups observed in the total Brazilian sample; for this regional subset, HVS-II was analyzed, providing, in particular, some novel details of the African mtDNA phylogeny .