PMID: 8940282Dec 1, 1996Paper

High mitochondrial sequence diversity in linguistic isolates of the Alps

American Journal of Human Genetics
M StenicoG Barbujani

Abstract

Segment I of the control region of mtDNA (360 bases) was sequenced in seven samples, each of 10 individuals inhabiting villages in the eastern Italian Alps (South Tyrol and Trentino). Three linguistic groups, German, Italian, and Ladin, were represented by two samples each; the seventh sample comes from an isolated group of German origin, the Mocheni, who are linguistically distinct and geographically separated from the bulk of the German speakers. Seventy-four polymorphic sites were identified, defining 63 different haplotypes. Mocheni and Ladin speakers tend to form two clusters in the evolutionary trees inferred from sequences. Analysis of molecular variance shows significant differentiation within samples, among them, and among linguistic groups. Genetic differences between the Ladins and the other groups are not much smaller than between Europeans and some Africans; variation is large within groups, as well, with the exception of only the Mocheni. In the evolutionary trees where the four alpine groups are compared with other European populations, Mocheni and especially Ladins appear as clear outliers. Romansch-speaking Swiss, who are linguistically related to Ladins, are not genetically similar to them, for this segment of...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare genetic disorder of abnormal lymphocyte survival caused by defective Fas mediated apoptosis. Discover the latest research on ALPS here.