Rosalba Floris

Genetic variation in prehistoric Sardinia

We sampled teeth from 53 ancient Sardinian (Nuragic) individuals who lived in the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age, between 3,430 and 2,700xa0years ago. After eliminating the samples that, in preliminary biochemical tests, did not show a high probability to yield reproducible results, we obtained 23 sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region, which were associated to haplogroups by comparison with a dataset of modern sequences. The Nuragic samples show a remarkably low genetic diversity, comparable to that observed in ancient Iberians, but much lower than among the Etruscans. Most of these sequences have exact matches in two modern Sardinian populations, supporting a clear genealogical continuity from the Late Bronze Age up to current times. The Nuragic populations appear to be part of a large and geographically unstructured cluster of modern European populations, thus making it difficult to infer their evolutionary relationships. However, the low levels of genetic diversity, both within and among ancient samples, as opposed to the sharp differences among modern Sardinian samples, support the hypothesis of the expansion of a small group of maternally related individuals, and of comparatively recent differentiation of the Sardinian gene pools.

A survey of genetic polymorphisms in Sardinia

A sample of unrelated individuals coming from Sardinia has been typed for AB0, Rhesus, Kell, 6-PGD, G-6-PD, PGM1, AK polymorphisms.The gene frequencies are compared with the published data from other Italian population samples.With regard to these polymorphisms a considerable heterogeneity appears among the Sardinians and the Italian of mainland populations.

6PGD and PGM1 Polymorphisms in South Sardinia

A sample of unrelated individuals, born and living in South Sardinia, was studied with respect to the enzymes 6PGD and PGM1. The gene frequencies were: PGDA 0.989 and PGM1 0.790. The results were compared with those of other Italian populations.

AK and ADA Polymorphisms in South Sardinia

A sample of the South Sardinia population was studied with respect to adenylate kinase (AK) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzymes. The gene frequencies were: AK1 0.975 and ADA1 = 0.933. The results were compared with those of other Italian populations.

The Osteological Collection of the University of Cagliari: From Early Neolithic to Modern Age.

The Osteological Collection described in this paper is located at the Anthropology Laboratory annexed to the Sardinian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the University of Cagliari. It has been created in 1953 by Carlo Maxia and comprises a large number of skeletal remains. At present the Collection consists of 11,854 human bones and continues to grow. The remains belong to different periods, beginning from the Early Neolithic and continuing to the Modern Age. The aim of this work is to provide information on the composition of this collection after the reorganization carried out in the last years.