Analysis of the mitochondrial DNA diversity in Yukaghirs in the evolutionary context

Based on the mtDNA first hypervariable segment sequence variation data, statistical analysis of the diversity in Yukaghirs in comparison with the other indigenous populations of Siberia, was carried out. The level of the Yukaghir mtDNA gene diversity (GD) constituted 0.920, which was only slightly different from the corresponding estimate for the other Siberian populations. Integral estimates of the genetic structure of Siberian populations (k, S, θ S , and π) are presented. Phylogenetic analysis, performed using the neighbor-joining method, showed that the Siberian populations clustered irrespectively to their language affiliation. Negative F s values found in Yukaghirs pointed to the possible influence of adaptive selection.