RESUMO
The first data on mtDNA diversity in Besermyan, the Finno-Ugric ethnic group, related to Udmurts, are presented. An analysis of mtDNA polymorphism showed that Besermyan stood out from the other populations of Volga-Ural region due to the presence of a large proportion of the mongoloid component. The sample of Besermyan contained East Eurasian haplotypes not detected in ethnic populations of the Volga region and Cisurals, while they were detected in South Siberia, mostly among Turkic-speaking populations. An analysis of the genetic distances between Besermyan and the neighboring ethnic groups showed that Besermyan were distant from other populations of Volga-Ural region and close to Turkic-speaking populations of South Siberia. Thus, the data obtained favor the suggestion on the mixed Udmurto-Turkic origin of Besermyan.