Spatial and temporal stability of mtDNA haplogroup frequencies in native North America

Abstract

Part of a special section on anthropological genetics in the 21st century. The origin and maintenance of genetic variation in modern populations of North American aboriginal populations were investigated. A comparison of 6 ancient population samples of North America with 41 contemporary North American populations scattered throughout the continent confirmed earlier work that indicated substantial geographic restructuring of mtDNA haplogroup frequencies. The ancient samples displayed haplogroup profiles that were most similar to those of modern populations living in the same geographic regions today. This result suggests a surprising stability of mtDNA haplogroup profiles in indigenous populations of the Americas over the past 2,000 years plus of the Holocene.