Identification of South Indian Muslims by Sequencing the Control Region of Mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis has proven to be an excellent tool for studying the genetic ancestry of many populations. It is also helpful for forensic investigations because of its unique qualities, such as a high mutation rate, maternal mode of inheritance, a high quantity of copies in cells, and control region with specific genetic markers. Therefore, the present study is conducted to establish high-quality forensic data, as well as to assign predominant haplogroups by studying variations generated from mitochondrial DNA control regions among the south Indian Muslims. To this aim, ۵ml blood samples were collected from ۶۰ healthy unrelated Muslim individuals of Srirangapatna town in Karnataka state, South India. DNA extracted from the blood sample was amplified, and the sequence of the control region of mtDNA was determined by the Sanger method. Using these sequence data, ۴۸ different haplotypes and ۱۱۳ polymorphic positions were defined. Of the ۴۸ haplotypes assessed, ۴۰ were unique, and eight were observed in more than one individual. Diversity indices such as genetic diversity, power of discrimination, and random match probability were ۰.۹۸۷۰, ۰.۹۷۰۵, and ۰.۰۲۹۴, respectively. The mean of pairwise differences was estimated at ۱۴.۶۷۱۷۵۱ +/- ۶.۶۵۹۹۵۱ and nucleotide diversity at ۰.۰۱۹۲۲۹ +/- ۰.۰۰۹۶۸۰. Consequently, the low random match probability and high genetic diversity were obtained from the present data, while previous studies suggest a high heterogeneity in the Indian Muslim population. The haplogroup pattern and its frequency were indicative of the composition of South Asian (۵۲%), West Eurasian (۲۸%), and West Asian (۲۰%) genetic content in this population. The diversity indices and phylogenetic findings confirm the high potential of mtDNA control region polymorphisms in forensic investigation casework and phylogenetic studies.