Aportación del ADN mitocondrial en el estudio filogenético de las poblaciones indígenas de América

Abstract

Genetic findings in the study of DNA mitochondrial variations have offered new tools for the analysis and understanding of human evolution. Specifically, the study provides molecular answers to some of the questions relating to the origin and evolution of Native American peoples. If America was populated through several migratory waves, in approximately what dates would this have happened, and how many groups (founding lineages) migrated to the continent? The present work discusses contributions made by several researchers who attempt to resolve these questions, showing molecular phylogenetic relationships in present day Native American populations, based on polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA.