Distribution of "Mongoloid" haplogroups of mitochondrial DNA among indigenous population of the Tuva Republic

Variation of Mongoloid-specific restriction sites of mitochondrial genome w as analyzed in three territorial groups of Tuvinians. Distribution of mitoc hondrial DNA haplogroups A, B, C, and D on the territory of the Tuva Republ ic was estimated. The populations studied did not display distinct differen tiation in respect to the mtDNA polymorphism. The specific feature of Tuvin ian mitochondrial gene pool was the prevalence of only one haplogroup C (ov er 40%), mainly represented by two mitotypes. The high frequency of this ha plogroup makes Tuvinians similar to more northern Siberian populations. On the other hand, the presence of hap logroup B indicates that Tuvinians have affinity to ethnic groups of Central Asia.