title: Y chromosome genetic variation in the Italian peninsula is clinal and supports an admixture model for the Mesolithic-Neolithic encounter.
abstract: The Italian peninsula, given its geographical location in the middle of the Mediterranean basin, was involved in the process of the peopling of Europe since the very beginning, with first settlements dating to the Upper Paleolithic. Later on, the Neolithic revolution left clear evidence in the archeological record, with findings going back to 7000 B.C. We have investigated the demographic consequences of the agriculture revolution in this area by genotyping Y chromosome markers for almost 700 individuals from 12 different regions. Data analysis showed a non-random distribution of the observed genetic variation, with more than 70% of the Y chromosome diversity distributed along a North-South axis. While the Greek colonisation during classical time appears to have left no significant contribution, the results support a male demic diffusion model, even if population replacement was not complete and the degree of Neolithic admixture with Mesolithic inhabitants was different in different areas of Italy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. cristian.capelli@zoo.ox.ac.uk <cristian.capelli@zoo.ox.ac.uk>
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brisighelli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scarnicci
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arredi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caglia'
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vetrugno
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tofanelli
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Onofri
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagliabracci
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paoli
authors.forename: Vincenzo L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Pascali
mesh_terms: D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male