The Carpathian range represents a weak genetic barrier in South-East Europe

Background: In the present study we have assessed whether the Carpathian Mountains represent a genetic barrier in East Europe. Therefore, we have analyzed the mtDNA of 128 native individuals of Romania: 62 of them from the North of Romania, and 66 from South Romania. Results: We have analyzed their mtDNA variability in the context of other European and Near Eastern populations through multivariate analyses. The results show that regarding the mtDNA haplogroup and haplotype distributions the Romanian groups living outside the Carpathian range (South Romania) displayed some degree of genetic differentiation compared to those living within the Carpahian range (North Romania). Conclusion: The main differentiation between the mtDNA variability of the groups from North and South Romania can be attributed to the demographic movements from East to West (prehistoric or historic) that differently affected in these regions, suggesting that the Carpathian mountain range represents a weak genetic barrier in South-East Europe. ; We are indebted to all the people who have contributed samples to this study. On the other hand, we are very grateful to David Comas for fruitful discussion and to Gartze Mentxaka for technical support. This work was supported by a Vici grant of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research to MGN, and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, GCL2011-29057/BOS and grant IT542-10 from the Basque Government to Research Groups of the Basque University System to CR, and (UFI 11/09) from the University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.