MtDNA variations in three main ethnic populations in Tuzla Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina

This study was based on the analysis of mtDNA polymorphisms in three ethnic groups of Tuzla Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs). The main aim of this study was to analyze the influences of the maternal gene flow on the genetic profile of ethnic groups. The analysis of mtDNA variation based on relevant restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in combination with HVSI variations of the control region enabled the identification of the Western - Eurasian haplogroups (H, I, J, T, W, U, HV, HVO, K, V, X), African/Near East lineages N1a and Asian haplogroup M. Our data indicate a close gene similarity among maternal gene pools of the ethnic groups of Tuzla Canton as well as similar influence of the maternal gene flow on genetic structure of those populations. The presence of important maternal determinants of the Late Glacial expansion (U5a), postglacial re-colonisation of Europe from refugia of southwestern Europe (H, V, U5b1), central-eastern European Plain (U4), Italian Peninsula (U5b3) and Neolithic expansion (U3, N1a, J, T) was noted in the genetic structure of the ethnic groups in Tuzla Canton. Conclusions in our study are consistent with the results of previous studies based on the distribution of mtDNA haplogroups and Y - chromosome haplogroups in three main ethnic groups of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina, suggesting similar effects of the paternal and maternal gene flows on genetic structure of the three main ethnic groups of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina.