mtDNA lineages in two Tunisian Berber communities: Comparing diversities between villages and towns

We show that the very patchy genetic landscape that is emerging for North African mtDNA diversity is mainly due to the sampling strategy being conducted in small villages, where individual ethnic affiliation to one of the main groups (Berber or Arab) is considered to be safer. The standard diversity measures and haplogroup distribution were significantly higher in a sample from a town than one from a village. Thus, the sampling strategy is a main factor to be taken into account before the construction of a forensic database in North African highly structured countries. D 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.