Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA is a putative tool used for genetic identification of human and tracing migration and sketching their evolution. To investigate the genetic structure of Pakistani population with reference to mitochondrial DNA control region and to explore the uniparental contribution, 50 maternally unrelated individuals with Punjabi ethnic background were screened. Forty eight haplotypes were identified that were assigned to 12 major haplogroups. Haplogroup M (38%) and haplogroup U (24%) formed the predominant groups. Haplogroup data showed that Punjabi population is mainly structured through South Asian and West Eurasian matrilineal lineages. Estimation of average pairwise genetic distance within and between 6 different Punjabi groups (Rajput, Awan, Arain, Jatt, Mughal and Gujjar) and phylogenetic analysis devised Arain as most genetically diverse and evolutionary distant division, followed by Mughal among the studied sub-ethnicities. This study is worthy contribution to augment population specific forensic database and deepens insight to the matrilineal evolution.
