Genetic Link Sami Russia.pdf

Genetic studies on Sami people reveal a link to the Volga-Ural region of Russia. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups V and U5b1b1 are prevalent among northern Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish Sami, while southern Swedish Sami have different haplogroups and a frequency distribution similar to Continental European populations. The divergence time for Sami haplogroup V sequences is 7600 years before present (YBP), and for U5b1b1, it is 5500 YBP among Sami and 6600 YBP among Sami and Finns. Haplogroup Z, found at low frequency in Sami and Northern Asian populations, suggests a common ancestor with lineages from the Volga-Ural region as recently as 2700 years ago. This indicates a recent contribution of people from the Volga-Ural region to the Sami population. The Sami languages, part of the Finnic group, also show connections to languages from Finland, Estonia, and western Russia, including Udmurt, Mari, and Komi. Genetic markers and Y chromosome haplotypes point to multiple founding lineages in both Finns and Sami, with an estimated 50% Asian component in males. Overall, the genetic origin of the Sami is complex, with contributions from Continental Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia.