Mitochondrial DNA Diversity in the Polish Roma

2005/08/31 by B. А. Malyarchuk, Tomasz Grzybowski, М. В. Деренко +2 · 7 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Health Professions · #Forensic and Genetic Research #Race, Genetics, and Society #Romani and Gypsy Studies #Haplogroup #Mitochondrial DNA #Haplotype #Hypervariable region #Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup #Genetics #Biology #Subclade #Evolutionary biology #Human mitochondrial genetics #Coding region #Founder effect #Phylogenetic tree #Clade #Allele #Gene

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1529-8817.2005.00222.x

openalex publication_date 2005/08/31 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/26

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA variability in the Polish Roma population has been studied by means of hypervariable segment I and II (HVS I and II) sequencing and restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis of the mtDNA coding region. The mtDNA haplotypes detected in the Polish Roma fall into the common Eurasian mitochondrial haplogroups (H, U3, K, J1, X, I, W, and M*). The results of complete mtDNA sequencing clearly indicate that the Romani M*-lineage belongs to the Indian-specific haplogroup M5, which is characterized by three transitions in the coding region, at sites 12477, 3921 and 709. Molecular variance analysis inferred from mtDNA data reveals that genetic distances between the Roma groups are considerably larger than those between the surrounding European populations. Also, there are significant differences between the Bulgarian Roma (Balkan and Vlax groups) and West European Roma (Polish, Lithuanian and Spanish groups). Comparative analysis of mtDNA haplotypes in the Roma populations shows that different haplotypes appear to demonstrate impressive founder effects: M5 and H (16261-16304) in all Romani groups; U3, I and J1 in some Romani groups. Interestingly, haplogroup K (with HVS I motif 16224-16234-16311) found in the Polish Roma sample seems to be specific for Ashkenazi Jewish populations.

Citations

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Cited by

• Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Variation and Phylogenetic Analysis in Japanese Individuals from Miyazaki Prefecture
• Origin and Post-Glacial Dispersal of Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups C and D in Northern Asia
• Reconstructing the Indian Origin and Dispersal of the European Roma: A Maternal Genetic Perspective
• Mitochondrial DNA Variability in the Czech Population, with Application to the Ethnic History of Slavs
• Autosomal and uniparental portraits of the native populations of Sakha (Yakutia): implications for the peopling of Northeast Eurasia
• History of the Romani people [wikipedia]
• Miscegenation [wikipedia]