Molecular diversity of mitochondrial DNA in Iranian Azeri ethnicities vis-à-vis other Azeris in Asia

Abstract

In order to investigate the molecular diversity of mtDNA in Azeri population, 133 Azeri subjects inhabiting<br />different regions of Azerbaijan (Iran) were selected. Blood samples were taken from these subjects for<br />mtDNA extraction. The extracted mtDNA samples were then studied by the PCR-RFLP method.<br />Fourteen haplogroups were characterized from which 82% were identified as European specific haplogroups.<br />The H haplogroup was the most frequent and 79 haplotypes were specified. In this study, the Iranian Azeri population was found to be a heterogenic population where all the specific haplogroups of Asians, Europeans and Africans were present in the studied population. Comparing the haplogroups of the present investigation with other populations indicated a very close similarity with other Iranian populations, but was different from haplogroups of other Asian populations who also speak the Azeri language.