title: Population relationships in the Mediterranean revealed by autosomal genetic data (Alu and Alu/STR compound systems).
abstract: The variation of 18 Alu polymorphisms and 3 linked STRs was determined in 1,831 individuals from 15 Mediterranean populations to analyze the relationships between human groups in this geographical region and provide a complementary perspective to information from studies based on uniparental markers. Patterns of population diversity revealed by the two kinds of markers examined were different from one another, likely in relation to their different mutation rates. Therefore, while the Alu biallelic variation underlies general heterogeneity throughout the whole Mediterranean region, the combined use of Alu and STR points to a considerable genetic differentiation between the two Mediterranean shores, presumably strengthened by a considerable sub-Saharan African genetic contribution in North Africa (around 13% calculated from Alu markers). Gene flow analysis confirms the permeability of the Sahara to human passage along with the existence of trans-Mediterranean interchanges. Two specific Alu/STR combinations-CD4 110(-) and DM 107(-)-detected in all North African samples, the Iberian Peninsula, Greece, Turkey, and some Mediterranean islands suggest an ancient genetic background of current Mediterranean peoples.
authors.affiliation: Secció d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Emili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González-Pérez
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Via
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gayà-Vidal
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Athanasiadis
authors.forename: Jean Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dugoujon
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: Maria Soledad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mesa
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fuster
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandil
authors.forename: Nourdin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harich
authors.forename: Nisrine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bissar-Tadmouri
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saetta
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moral
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000352:Africa, Northern; D001782:Blood Donors; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005060:Europe; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA