Genetic history of some western Mediterranean human isolates through mtDNA HVR1 polymorphisms.
The existence of a genetic gradient across continents has often been highlighted. Comparisons among several genetic markers have suggested that most genes of current Europeans are descended from the Near East. During the Paleolithic period, populations were confined in refuges by the last glaciation. At the end of the Paleolithic period, European migrations began from these refuges. Our objective was to highlight these various flows, starting from well-defined isolated populations, originating mainly from western Mediterranean islands. We investigated polymorphisms in the hypervariable 1 (HVR1) zone of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in many Mediterranean isolates: Andalusia, Balearic Islands, southern Corsica, Morocco, Sant' Antioco Island, San Pietro Island, Gallura, Nuoro and Trexenta (Sardinia) and Tuscany. We have compared our findings with those from other Mediterranean populations. Occupation of the Mediterranean area from the Middle East began in the Upper Paleolithic period around 40,000 years ago, with a population diversity determined by geographical and historical factors. Of the isolates studied, the population of the Balearic Islands show genetic characteristics correlated with various European flows initiated about 5,000 years ago. The island of San Pietro, in southwest Sardinia, still preserves the genetic traces of settlement by Ligurian migrants in 1736.
Falchi
Alessandra
A
Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of Corsica, BP 52, 20250, Corte, Corsica, France.
Giovannoni
Laurianne
L
Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of Corsica, BP 52, 20250, Corte, Corsica, France.
Calo
Carla Maria
CM
Department of Experimental Biology, Section Anthropology, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy.
Piras
Ignazio Stefano
IS
Department of Experimental Biology, Section Anthropology, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy.
Moral
Pedro
P
Department of Animal Biology, University of Barcelona, Avenida Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
Paoli
Giorgio
G
Department of Ecology and Evolution, Unit of Anthropology, University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
Vona
Giuseppe
G
Department of Experimental Biology, Section Anthropology, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy.
Varesi
Laurent
L
Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of Corsica, BP 52, 20250, Corte, Corsica, France. varesi@univ-corse.fr.
D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial