Absence of the 9-bp Deletion of Mitochondrial DNA in Pre-Hispanic Inhabitants of Argentina

• Published in: Human biology 2001-08, Vol.73 (4), p.575-582
• Main Authors: DEMARCHI, DARÍO A., PANZETTA-DUTARI, GRACIELA M., COLANTONIO, SONIA E., MARCELLINO, ALBERTO J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiquities; Archaeological sites; Argentina; Base Pairing - genetics; Brief Communications; Cañari Indians; Chromosome Deletion; DNA; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; DNA, Mitochondrial - history; Emigration and Immigration - history; Evolution; Gene Frequency - genetics; Genetic aspects; History, Ancient; Human population genetics; Humans; Incidence; Mitochondrial DNA; Native South Americans; Paleo-Indians; Paleodontology; Pampas; Peruvian cultural periods; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Population genetics; Reagents; South American native peoples; Tissue samples
• ISSN: 0018-7143; 1534-6617; 1534-6617
• DOI: 10.1353/hub.2001.0050

We investigated the incidence of the Region V mitochondrial DNA 9-base-pair (bp) deletion from human remains recovered from several archaeological sites and contexts throughout Argentina. Of the 34 samples analyzed, 24 yielded DNA extractions that gave clear amplification results. All of the individuals carried two repeats of the 9 bp, one of which has been shown to be deleted in some individuals of Asian origin and defines mitochondrial lineage B. Although most of the modern Amerindian groups in the region exhibit the deletion in high frequencies, the absence of the 9-bp deletion among ancient populations of South America seems to be the rule rather than the exception, as was reported by several studies involving extinct populations. The evidence gathered until now suggests that the earliest settlers of this region of South America did not carry mitochondrial lineage B.