Features of the Udmurt mitochondrial gene pool in relation to tribal structure

We present novel data on mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in the Udmurt population, which represents a Finno-Ugric ethnos residing in the Volga-Ural region. Our analysis of the Udmurt mtDNA polymorphisms have shown that neighboring ethnoses had almost no effect on formation of the Udmurtian intra-ethnic diversity. These results strongly indicate that genetic differences in the Udmurtian population are determined by their tribal structure rather than their geographic location.