mtDNA variation in the Buryat population of the Barguzin Valley: New insights into the micro-evolutionary history of the Baikal area.

BACKGROUND

Southern Siberian populations, including the Buryat, have been of great interest in investigating the exchanges between Eastern and Western Eurasia and understanding the peopling of Siberia and the New World.

AIM

Previous studies mainly employed a phylogenetic approach, and thus used pooled samples to detect a maximum of variability. As different sampling strategies may result in different pictures of a population's evolutionary history, we proposed in this study to focus on a local Buryat population selected on the basis of geographical, archaeological and ethno-historical data.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study investigated a local population from the Barguzin Valley, on the north-western shores of Lake Baikal identified as the most likely place of Buryat origin. We analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) RFLPs markers, HVS-I and HVS-II sequences to discuss the genetic variability of this population, and to compare our local sample with pooled Buryat samples and neighbouring Siberian populations.

RESULTS

The Barguzin Buryat sample shows depressed neutrality scores compared to the pooled Buryat sample, and different genetic affinities with the Mongol and Turco-Evenk populations.

CONCLUSION

These results underline the need to use local samples, in addition to pooled samples, to investigate the history of human populations at the micro-evolutionary level.