[The variability of mitochondrial DNA in eastern Slavs].

Geographical distributions of three mitochondrial DNA markers (BamHI-1/AvaII-5(3), BamHI-2/AvaII-5(3), and BamHI-3/MspI-4) were analyzed in Caucasian populations of Europe and Middle East. Considerable genetic similarity between eastern Slavs and southern European populations (r = 0.995) has been found. It is assumed that the basic components of the mitochondrial gene pool of eastern Slavs are of southern European origin.