Genetic isolates in Corsica (France): linkage disequilibrium extension analysis on the Xq13 region.
Genetic isolates with a history of a small founder population, long-lasting isolation and population bottlenecks represent exceptional resources in the identification of genes involved in the pathogenesis of multifactorial diseases. In these populations, the disease allele reveals linkage disequilibrium (LD) with markers over significant genetic intervals, therefore facilitating disease locus identification. This study has been designed to examine the background LD extension in some subpopulations of Corsica. Our interest in the island of Corsica is due to its geographical and genetic proximity to the other Mediterranean island of Sardinia. Sardinian isolates in which the extension of the background LD is particularly high have been recently identified and are now the object of studies aimed at the mapping of genes involved in complex diseases. Recent evidence has highlighted that the genetic proximity between the populations of Corsica and Sardinia is particularly true for the internal conservative populations. Given these considerations, Sardinia and Corsica may represent a unique system to carry out parallel association studies whose results could be validated by comparison. In the present study, we have analyzed the LD extension on the Xq13 genomic region in three subpopulations of Corsica: Corte, Niolo and Bozio, all located in the mountainous north-center of the island. Our results show a strong degree of LD over long distance for the population of Bozio and to a less extent for the population of Niolo. Their LD extent is comparable to or higher than that reported for other isolates.
Latini
Veronica
V
Istituto di Neurogenetica e Neurofarmacologia Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (INN-CNR), Cagliari, Italy.
Sole
Gabriella
G
Doratiotto
Silvia
S
Poddie
Daniela
D
Memmi
Marc
M
Varesi
Laurent
L
Vona
Giuseppe
G
Cao
Antonio
A
Ristaldi
Maria Serafina
MS
D000483:Alleles; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics*; D018703:Founder Effect; D005602:France; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics