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Messina F, Finocchio A, Rolfo MF, De Angelis F, Rapone C, Coletta M, Martínez-Labarga C, Biondi G, Berti A, Rickards O. Traces of forgotten historical events in mountain communities in Central Italy: A genetic insight. Am J Hum Biol 2015; 27:508-19. [PMID: 25728801 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Analysis of human genetic variation in mountain communities can shed light on the peopling of mountainous regions, perhaps revealing whether the remote geographic location spared them from outside invasion and preserved their gene pool from admixture. In this study, we created a model to assess genetic traces of historical events by reconstructing the paternal and maternal genetic history of seven small mountain villages in inland valleys of Central Italy. METHODS The communities were selected for their geographic isolation, attested biodemographic stability, and documented history prior to the Roman conquest. We studied the genetic structure by analyzing two hypervariable segments (HVS-I and HVS-II) of the mtDNA D-loop and several informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the mtDNA coding region in 346 individuals, in addition to 17 short tandem repeats (STRs) and Y-chromosome SNPs in 237 male individuals. RESULTS For both uniparental markers, most of the haplogroups originated in Western Europe while some Near Eastern haplogroups were identified at low frequencies. However, there was an evident genetic similarity between the Central Italian samples and Near Eastern populations mainly in the male genetic pool. CONCLUSIONS The samples highlight an overall European genetic pattern both for mtDNA and Y chromosome. Notwithstanding this scenario, Y chromosome haplogroup Q, a common paternal lineage in Central/Western Asia but almost Europe-wide absent, was found, suggesting that Central Italy could have hosted a settlement from Anatolia that might be supported by cultural, topographic and genetic evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Messina
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA study, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Finocchio
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA study, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Federico Rolfo
- Department of Historical, Philosophical and Social Sciences, Cultural and Territory Heritage, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via Columbia n. 1, 00173, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavio De Angelis
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA study, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Cesare Rapone
- Carabinieri, Scientific Investigation Department, Viale di Tor di Quinto 151, 00191, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Coletta
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA study, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Martínez-Labarga
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA study, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Biondi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67010, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrea Berti
- Carabinieri, Scientific Investigation Department, Viale di Tor di Quinto 151, 00191, Rome, Italy
| | - Olga Rickards
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA study, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
The present analysis compares the distribution of surnames by means of spatial autocorrelation analysis in the Spain-Portugal border region. The Spanish National Institute of Statistics provides a database of surnames of residents in the western Spanish provinces of Zamora, Salamanca, Cáceres, Badajoz and Huelva. The Spanish and Portuguese patterns of surname distribution were established according to various geographic axes. The results obtained show a low diversity of surnames in this region - especially in the centre - which can be explained by the absence of any major geographic barriers, with the exception of the mountain ranges between hydrographic basins, and by the presence of traditional roads that have existed since Roman times. The latter have resulted in a constant migratory flow over short-median distances, which, as can be deduced from the surnames, fits two north/south territorial axes running parallel to the border between Spain and Portugal. The distribution patterns of Portuguese and Spanish surnames differ with regard to their frequencies in the five provinces studied, which can be attributed to their respective historical, economic and social conditions. It is concluded that the border delimiting these two countries has affected the migratory flow, thereby conditioning the demographic and genetic structure of the western Spanish regions.
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Abstract
The mating pattern in a population determines the next generation gene pool and therefore its genetic structure. Besides socio-cultural and geographic factors, political barriers may influence the formation of couples. The present paper studies how the change of national border affected the mating pattern of Olivenza in Badajoz Province (Spain), which experienced a change of domain from Portugal to Spain in 1801. For the period analysed (1750-1850), 954 Catholic marriage records were transcribed. Data were sorted by decades in order to make a temporal study possible and analysed by means of diversity and repeated-pairs of surnames. Following the change of border the mating pattern modified. Coinciding with a larger number of mixed marriages with Spaniards, there was a progressive rise in the diversity of surnames. From 1811 to 1820 the analysis of repeated-pairs of surnames indicates the existence of preferential matings within Spanish and Portuguese lineages. After 1821 the above pattern became less clear due to the disappearance of the Spanish-Portuguese restrictions on choice of mate.
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Fiorini S, Tagarelli G, Boattini A, Luiselli D, Piro A, Tagarelli A, Pettener D. Ethnicity and Evolution of the Biodemographic Structure of Arbëreshe and Italian Populations of the Pollino Area, southern Italy (1820–1984). AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 2007. [DOI: 10.1525/aa.2007.109.4.735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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