Polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA D-loop in Rimini and Valmarecchia areas in the North of Italy

Received 16 August 2007; accepted 7 October 2007.

Abstract

The sequence polymorphisms of the hypervariable segments I and II (HVI and HVII) of the human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in two population samples from Romagna region in the North of Italy, the urban area of Rimini and the near area of Valmarecchia, were analyzed. The aim of this study was to create a population database for mtDNA HVI and HVII regions of these two areas. A total of 83 and 80 samples of unrelated individuals from Rimini and Valmarecchia respectively were collected. A phylogenetic analysis was performed following EMPOP program. The principal European haplogroups were found, being the haplogroup H the most frequent. Point heteroplasmy was observed in only two individuals, but the majority of samples showed length heteroplasmy in HVII region. For forensic purpose the observed data may be included in the general Italian database.

Keywords: Mitochondrial DNA, Population data, North of Italy, HVI and HVII

a Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

b Department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

c Department of Diagnostic and Laboratory Service and Legal Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy

Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 0512088343; fax: +39 0512088358.

PII: S1875-1768(08)00068-1

doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2007.10.033

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