title: Latitude-correlated genetic polymorphisms: selection or gene flow?
abstract: Latitude-correlated polymorphisms can be due to either selection-driven evolution or gene flow. To discriminate between them, we propose an approach that studies subpopulations springing from a single population that have lived for generations at different latitudes and have had a low genetic admixture. These requirements are fulfilled to a large extent by Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews. The original population lived at a latitude of 35 degrees N, where the Sephardis still live. The Ashkenazis, however, moved to a latitude of 50 degrees N, starting about 10 centuries ago. The present study examines 3 latitude-correlated polymorphisms: PGP, PGM1, and AHSG. We found that PGP*2 and AHSG*2 alleles most likely underwent selection-driven evolution, but that PGM1*ts allele was not similarly affected. Since temperature might have been considered a reasonable selective factor, we also studied a population living at >800 m above sea level from Aosta Valley (Italy).
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia E. Calef, Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ciminelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jodice
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scozzari
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Corbo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nahum
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pompei
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Santachiara-Benerecetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santolamazza
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Morpurgo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Modiano
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics*; D005843:Geography; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007585:Jews / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D010733:Phosphoglucomutase / Q000235:genetics*; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013696:Temperature; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein
chemical_list: C556354:AHSG protein, human; D001798:Blood Proteins; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; C022408:phosphoglycolate phosphatase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D010733:Phosphoglucomutase