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Harvesting the fruit of the human mtDNA tree

Authors :
Torroni, Antonio
Achilli, Alessandro
Macaulay, Vincent
Richards, Martin
Bandelt, Hans-Jürgen
Source :
Trends in Genetics. Jun2006, Vol. 22 Issue 6, p339-345. 7p.
Publication Year :
2006

Abstract

Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) studies have entered a new phase since the blossoming of complete genome analyses. Sequencing complete mtDNAs is more expensive and more labour intensive than restriction analysis or simply sequencing the control region of the molecule. But the efforts are paying off, as the phylogenetic resolution of the mtDNA tree has been greatly improved, and, in turn, phylogeographic interpretations can be given correspondingly greater precision in terms of the timing and direction of human dispersals. Therefore, despite mtDNA being only a fraction of our total genome, the deciphering of its evolution is profoundly changing our perception about how modern humans spread across our planet. Here we illustrate the phylogeographic approach with two case studies: the initial dispersal out of Africa, and the colonization of Europe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
01689525
Volume :
22
Issue :
6
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Trends in Genetics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
21048403
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2006.04.001