The immigrant population from Mozambique in Lisbon: Updated mitochondrial DNA portrait

Abstract Since the end of the 1970s Portugal had a role in the migratory movements, becoming a destiny for immigrants of a wide range of nationalities, especially from the African continent. According to statistical data, until the end of 2015, there were approximately 3000 Mozambican immigrants living in Portugal and from those, more than a half living in Lisbon metropolitan region. Mitochondrial DNA identical sequences are shared by matrilineal inheritance. Along with the lack of recombination, it enables to trace the ancestral origin of each population and its evolutionary history. However, not only in evolutionary and population studies but also in forensic genetics, mtDNA is an important tool. The aim of our study is the genetic characterization of Mozambican immigrants living in Lisbon in order to emphasize their genetic variability contribution to Lisbon population. We studied blood samples from 83 Mozambican immigrants living in Lisbon. A wide range of haplotypes belonging to L, H, U, K, R, J, T and M haplogroups were founded. The highest incidence was observed for the L haplogroup (81%), often pointed as characteristic Sub-Saharan, region where Mozambique is framed. The great genetic heterogeneity for Mozambican immigrant population was highlighted in our results. Phylogenetic analysis established that the studied population is the immigrant community genetically closer to the Portuguese population.