title: Mendelian breeding units versus standard sampling strategies: Mitochondrial DNA variation in southwest Sardinia.
abstract: We report a sampling strategy based on Mendelian Breeding Units (MBUs), representing an interbreeding group of individuals sharing a common gene pool. The identification of MBUs is crucial for case-control experimental design in association studies. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possible existence of bias in terms of genetic variability and haplogroup frequencies in the MBU sample, due to severe sample selection. In order to reach this goal, the MBU sampling strategy was compared to a standard selection of individuals according to their surname and place of birth. We analysed mitochondrial DNA variation (first hypervariable segment and coding region) in unrelated healthy subjects from two different areas of Sardinia: the area around the town of Cabras and the western Campidano area. No statistically significant differences were observed when the two sampling methods were compared, indicating that the stringent sample selection needed to establish a MBU does not alter original genetic variability and haplogroup distribution. Therefore, the MBU sampling strategy can be considered a useful tool in association studies of complex traits.
authors: Dipartimento di Zoologia e Genetica Evoluzionistica, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Daria
authors: D
authors: Sanna
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Pala
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Cossu
authors: Gian Luca
authors: GL
authors: Dedola
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Melis
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Fresu
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Morelli
authors: Domenica
authors: D
authors: Obinu
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Tonolo
authors: Giannina
authors: G
authors: Secchi
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Triunfo
authors: Joseph G
authors: JG
authors: Lorenz
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Scheinfeldt
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Torroni
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Robledo
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Francalacci