Original Paper

Saami Mitochondrial DNA Reveals Deep Maternal Lineage Clusters
Madjid Delghandi^a, Egil Utsi^c, Stefan Krauss<sup>b

a</sup> Morphology II Department and
^b Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, and
^c Hjertesenter, Karasjok, Norway

Address of Corresponding Author

Hum Hered 1998;48:108-114 (DOI: 10.1159/000022789)

  Key Words

• Mitochondrial DNA
• D loop
• Polymorphism
• Saami

  Abstract

The mitochondrial DNA of 62 Saami from the north of Norway was analyzed in the D loop hypervariable region I and II and sequences were compared to other gene pools. Two major (lineage 1 and 2) and two minor (lineage 3 and 4) maternal lineage clusters were found. Lineage 1 (56.9% of all hitherto analyzed Saami samples) contains a substantial number of branching haplotypes which are unknown in European gene pools. Lineage 2 (31.5%) and lineage 4 (3.6%) have few branching points and are present at a low rate throughout European gene pools. Lineage 3 (4.7%) has polymorphisms characteristic of circumpolar lineages.

  Author Contacts

Stefan Krauss, MD
Department of Molecular Genetics
Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø
N-9037 Tromsø (Norway)
Tel. +47 776 46203, Fax +47 776 45350, E-Mail stefan@fagmed.uit.no

  Article Information

Received: Received: January 24, 1997
Revision received: November 4, 1997
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 27