Preliminary results of mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in Jujuy population (Argentina)

Abstract

Jujuy is a province of Argentina, placed in the extreme northwest of the country, close to the borders with Chile, Bolivia and the Salta province of Argentina. Different studies on South American population have proposed that actual population is composed by Native American maternal lineages and European paternal lineages with different proportions among regions. The principal aim of this work is to study the mitochondrial genetic variability of the Jujuy population and also the different contributions of European and American-Native settlers. Results showed that the population sample was mainly composed by Native American haplogroups. Genetic contribution of European origin is very low. Haplogroups distribution in the province of Jujuy was related to other neighboring Native American populations. These preliminary data could be helpful for understanding the present distribution of the mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in this region.