Genetic characterization of populations of the Volga-Ural region according to the variability of the Y-chromosome

An analysis of genetic diversity in nine ethnic groups of the Volga-Ural region was carried out using 15 biallelic loci in the nonrecombining region of the Y-chromosome. The major Y-chromosome haplogroups in the region are R1a-M198, R1b-M269, and N-M231. It was found that Bashkirs show the greatest difference from other populations of the Volga-Ural region according both to F st and to the principal component analysis. In addition, analysis of the frequency distribution of Y-chromosome haplogroups was carried out in the Besermyan population, which was not studied previously from the Y-chromosome perspective. The results of this study revealed the predominance of haplogroup N-M231 (54.7%) in this ethnic group, which may indicate the prevalence of the Finno-Ugric component in the formation of the patrilineal component in the gene pool of the Besermyan ethnic group.