Analyzing Population Genetics Using the Mitochondrial Control Region and Bioinformatics.

The 14-base pair hypervariable region in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Asian populations, specifically Japanese and Chinese students at Plattsburgh State University, was examined. Previous research on this 14-base pair region showed it to be susceptible to mutations and as a result indicated direct correlation with specific ethnic populations. Earlier studies provided the 14-base pair region sequence analysis for Asians in general. This inquiry- based project was generated in a junior/senior college general genetics course. The project produced sequences of the 14-base pair hypervariable region for Japanese and Chinese populations, specifically. The investigation examined 28 Japanese and 27 Chinese international students. A Control group, consisting of 20 random students was also sampled. The 14-base pair hypervariable region for each sample was analyzed through comparison using bioinformatics. Analyzing the samples showed that, overall, 46% of the Japanese samples, 59% of the Chinese samples, and 75% of the Control samples had the same 14-base pair sequence. In addition to this, it was observed that the Japanese, Chinese, and Control group all had their own specific mutations within the 14-base pair hypervariable region.