Lack of founding Amerindian mitochondrial DNA lineages in extinct Aborigines from Tierra del Fuego–Patagonia

Ancient DNA from bones and teeth of 60 individuals from four extinct human populations from Tierra del Fuego–Patagonia (Selknam, Yamana, Kaweskar and Aonikenk) has been extracted and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) amplified by using the polymerase chain reaction. High-resolution analysis of endonuclease restriction site variation in the mtDNA and sequencing of its hypervariable non-coding control region, revealed complete absence of two of the four primary mito-chondrial haplotype groups present in contemporary Amerinds, namely A and B. In contrast, haplogroups C and D were found in all but one sample with frequencies of ∼38 % and 60%. These results, together with the decreasing incidence of group A in more southerly latitudes in the American continent and the absence of cluster B above 55 North in America and Asia, argue that the first settlers entering America 21 000–14 000 years ago already lacked both mtDNA lineages