Antropología molecular y análisis del ADN mitocondrial en poblaciones nahuas del Altiplano de México

This study identifies the mitochondrial haplogroup frequencies, A, B, C and D, in present-day Nahua inhabiting the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, and San Luis Potosi. The results obtained were compared with those of other Nahua populations cited in the literature. In Nahua populations haplogroup A shows the highest frequency with a range of 46 to 74%, haplogroup D is the least frequent, with low frequencies from 2 to 17%. The present and ancient Nahua populations do not show a clear distribution pattern of mitochondrial haplogroup frequencies, in contrast to what has been observed in other populations of Mesoamerican origin, as the Maya (A, C, B and D, based on their decreasing frequency). In general, the results show significant genetic differences between the populations, especially the present-day Nahua of Veracruz compared within itself and with other Nahua populations, which could be the result of regional history and origin. Also, other modern Nahua populations from the same geographical region do not always show close genetic relations, such as the two Nahua populations from Mexico City, or those from Puebla and Hidalgo. In turn, four modern Nahua populations from different geographic regions show a genetic similarity that could be due to the presence of a continuous gene flow between them. Three other populations, the ancient Aztec from Mexico City, the ancient Nahua from Tlaxcala and the modern Nahua from the Puebla Sierra Norte studied here also show a close genetic relation that could be owed to a common origin.