In summary, our analyses of mtDNA data from Chinese ethnic groups, with special focus on the phylogeographic analysis of Han Chinese, relationship between ethno-origin and genetic structure, as well as mtDNAs from the Silk Road region, revealed that the formation and development of Chinese ethnic groups are very complex. The observed matrilineal genetic structure is thus a reservoir that aggregated all kinds of genetic and demographic effects.

  Key Words:  mtDNA, Chinese ethnic populations, origin, genetic structure, ethnogenesis, Silk Road, gene admixture