The structure of the gene pools of the ethnic populations of Altai-Sayan region based on of mitochondrial DNA polymorphism data

Using the data on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphism, genetic structure s of the four Turkic-speaking ethnic groups of Altai-Sayan highlands, South ern Altaians (Altai-Kizhi), Khakassians, Shorians, and Sojots, were describ ed. Mitochondrial gene pools of the populations examined were characterized by different ratios between Mongoloid (M*, C, D, E, G, A, B, and F) and Ca ucasoid (H, U, T, J, and K) mtDNA lineages. All the populations studied had a strongly pronounced Mongoloid component, the frequency of which was 88.2 % in Sojots, 75.9% in Khakassians, 67.4% in Altaians, and 64.3% in Shorians . Maximum frequency of the Caucasoid component (35.7%) was observed in Shor ians. Phylogenetic and statistical analyses of the mtDNA group frequency di stribution patterns in the gene pools of the ethnic populations of Altai-Sa yan highlands and the adjacent territories showed that the populations of t he region fell into three groups. The first group included Khakassians, Tuv inians and Altaians, the second group consisted of Sojots, Buryats, and Mon gols, while the third group was composed of Uigurs, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyzes. The isolated position of Shorians among the populations examined can be exp lained by their different anthropological composition and their presumptive relatedness to Finno-Ugric populations of Siberia.