[Distribution of mitochondrial DNA markers in the European populations of Eurasia].

Results of comparative analysis of published and original data on mtDNA polymorphism in Caucasoid populations of Eurasia are presented. The study was based on choosing for analysis mitochondrial DNA markers with distinct geographical frequency gradients. Southeastern Europe was demonstrated to be an area of maximum frequencies of BamHI-1/AvaII-5(3), BamHI-3/MspI-4, and 16126(C)/16294(T) of mtDNA control region; mitogroup BamHI-2/AvaII-5(3) prevailed in populations of northwestern Europe. This distribution of mitochondrial markers was presumed to be connected to the history of European population formation and Caucasoid migrations from the Near East to Europe in the Neolithic.