Sonia E. Colantonio

Use of Surname Models in Human Population Biology: A Review of Recent Developments

Since 1985, when a bibliography concerning studies on surnames and genetic structure appeared, the number of publications on this subject has increased a thousandfold. New topics and uses have been added, but largegaps in knowledge remain. Only studies on isonymy in cities of nation states for recent times are well covered, and most studies are on populations that were selected because they are isolated and not because they are typical. This review, although not exhaustive, covers the literature published since 1985.

Ethnobotanical knowledge in rural communities of Cordoba (Argentina): the importance of cultural and biogeographical factors

BackgroundThe possibility to better understand the relationships within the men, the nature and their culture has extreme importance because allows the characterisation of social systems through their particular environmental perception, and provides useful tools for the development of conservation policies.MethodsThe present study was planned to disentangle environmental and cultural factors that are influencing the perception, knowledge and uses of edible and medicinal plants in rural communities of Cordoba (Argentina). Interviews an participant observation were conducted in nine rural communities located in three different biogeographical areas. Data about knowledge of medicinal and edible plants and sociocultural variables were obtained. Data were analysed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA).ResultsThe analysis of data confirmed that medicinal species are widely used whereas the knowledge on edible plants is eroding. The PCA showed four groups of communities, defined by several particular combinations of sociocultural and/or natural variables.ConclusionThis comprehensive approach suggests that in general terms the cultural environment has a stronger influence than the natural environment on the use of medicinal and edible plants in rural communities of Cordoba (Argentina).

Factors associated with recent increase of multiple births in Spain.

The increased incidence of multiple deliveries in Spain, in addition to changes in age at maternity and parity, is attributed to assisted reproductive treatments, but the relative contribution of the latter to this rise remains uncertain, due to the scarce information provided by clinics practicing those treatments. Population based data (1984-2004), including information on mothers age, nationality, marital status, date of delivery, and the characteristics of each (parity, single or multiple), and sex of newborns were provided by the Spanish Institute of Statistics. Twinning and triplet deliveries relate to maternal age, parity, and nationality. For younger ages (<or= 19, 20-24, 25-29) rates remained constant over time, but for older women (30-34, 35-39, >or= 40) rates increased after 1994. From 1984 to 2004 the percentage of twins of opposite sex increased from 24.31 to 36.58 per cent. Since 1997, Spanish and non-Spanish mothers differentiate with respect to multiple maternity at ages over 30. In addition to unmarried Spanish women, immigrants constitute a reliable reference group that determines the convenience of segregating information on multiple deliveries respecting origin. The proportion of twins and triplets of opposite sex, maternal age, and parity patterns observed are concordant with a differential access to reproductive treatments depending on the womans age. The present norm regulating the maximum number of fertilizations per cycle and the demand for these treatments explain the high incidence of multiple deliveries in Spain. A modified logistic curve predicts a stabilization of multiple deliveries, which will probably continue to be high in Spain.

Consanguinity in Spain: Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Geographic Influences

Information on consanguinity in Spain was reanalyzed in order to obtain a more complete picture of consanguinity patterns by considering temporal, geographical, demographic, and economic factors. To obtain data on consanguineous marriages, we reviewed 106 published references. Only populations with homogeneous geographical characteristics, economic activities, transportation facilities, and the like, were considered. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) provided highly significant differences (p < 0.001) for a both for time periods and for urban versus rural patterns, but there was no interaction between the latter two. A regression analysis shows that for rural areas the geographic characteristics, economy, communications, and index of demographic tendency were significant predictors of the inbreeding coefficient. The results obtained indicate that urban and rural patterns differ significantly and that the temporal factor needs to be taken into account before comparing inbreeding coefficients. In urban areas the census size and altitude are included in the regression equation as significant variables, but association was not found between a and the index of demographic tendency (population increase or decrease). Instead, the absolute number of inhabitants (census size) was significant. In rural areas geographic characteristics, communications, and index of demographic tendency were significant predictors of the inbreeding coefficient.

Absence of the 9-bp Deletion of Mitochondrial DNA in Pre-Hispanic Inhabitants of Argentina

We investigated the incidence of the Region V mitochondrial DNA 9-base-pair (bp) deletion from human remains recovered from several archaeological sites and contexts throughout Argentina. Of the 34 samples analyzed, 24 yielded DNA extractions that gave clear amplification results. All of the individuals carried two repeats of the 9 bp, one of which has been shown to be deleted in some individuals of Asian origin and defines mitochondrial lineage B. Although most of the modern Amerindian groups in the region exhibit the deletion in high frequencies, the absence of the 9-bp deletion among ancient populations of South America seems to be the rule rather than the exception, as was reported by several studies involving extinct populations. The evidence gathered until now suggests that the earliest settlers of this region of South America did not carry mitochondrial lineage B.

Bilateral asymmetry in permanent dentition of 13 pre-conquest samples from Argentina (South America)

Bilateral asymmetry is an important field of study in anthropology. The evaluation of bilateral asymmetry of 44 dental non-metric traits of permanent dentition is carried out in this study on 376 adult skulls from different archaeological sites in Argentina (South America). From a total of 44 traits studied, just 12 (27% of the total traits expressed) presented Bilateral Index (BI) values lower than 100% (between 92% and 99%). Results suggest that the expression of all dental traits is probably bilateral. These results show the importance of analysis of bilateral asymmetry for assignment of taxonomic and population value of non-metric dental traits.

Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Geographic Variables Affecting the Diverse Degrees of Consanguineous Marriages in Spain

In a population the inbreeding coefficient ;ga is determined by the relative incidence of the various degrees of consanguineous marriages—uncle-niece or aunt-nephew (C12), first cousin (C22), first cousin once removed (C23), second cousin (C33)—which may be related to temporal, geographic, demographic, and economic factors. Using published information from Spain corresponding to urban and rural areas, in this article we seek to establish how each specific relationship behaves with respect to geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors, to determine differential urban-rural patterns, and to study whether the diverse types of consanguineous matings relate homogeneously to these factors. For this purpose we performed multiple regressions in which the dependent variables were the different degrees of consanguinity previously selected and the independent variables were geographic, demographic, and economic factors. Our results indicate that the various types of consanguineous marriages in Spain are more conditioned by geographic, demographic, and economic variables than by the inbreeding level ;ga (the coefficient of determination was between 0.22 and 0.72; the maximum for ;ga was 0.35). A regional pattern exists in Spain and corresponds to close and to remote kinship, which may be mainly related to economic and family factors. Close relationships appear to be more associated with economic variables, whereas second-cousin marriages correspond largely to rural areas of the Spanish Central Plateau.

Persistence of the Use of Medicinal Plants in Rural Communities of the Western Arid Chaco [Cordoba, Argentina]~!2010-01-05~!2010-04-27~!2010-06-22~!

Rural communities have complex strategies for health conservation: the use of local pharmacopoeia, visits to “curanderos” [traditional healers] and the use of the scientific official system of medicine. Through 129 semi-structured surveys in 6 villages of the Arid Chaco forest of western Cordoba Province 151 plants species (117 natives and 34 exotics) were registered for diverse uses: digestive, external frictions, respiratory, diuretic, circulatory, sedative, magic, feminine, etc. Besides, differential use by men and women was registered associated to particular cultural roles. 90% of the species were previously registered for the region by several botanists, folklorists and geographers. Thus, a historical continuum in the knowledge of medicinal plants can be pointed out. This knowledge on medicinal plants seems to be part of the culture of the “criollos”, inhabitants of the rural areas of Argentina traditionally dedicated to stockbreeding. Although same socio-cultural changes occurred in the last 100 years, still persist an ethno-medic system related to a comprehensive treatment of patients, which try the disorders simultaneously in physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and environmental levels.

Dental Non-Metric Traits in a Pre-Conquest Sample "Calchaquí" From Argentina, South America

Estudiamos una muestra Pre-Conquista de Calchaquies del Noroeste de Argentina, con el objetivo de explorar patrones de morfologia dental presentes en esta poblacion. Se realizo un analisis macroscopico en denticion permanente de 7 craneos. 40 rasgos no-dentales fueron registrados utilizando el ASU Dental Antropology System. Porcentajes mayores al 70% fueron encontrados solamente en 4 rasgos. La muestra estudiada esta cerca de valores en la expresion de la forma de pala, pero los resultados de este estudio sugieren que un patron Sinodonte no es claro para esta muestra. Para concluir, la presente investigacion brinda adicionalmente, profundos elementos para una descripcion de los factores biologicos en el proceso de diversificacion morfologica dental asociada a los rangos regionales y temporales en esta region de Argentina.

Morfología Dental de una Serie Prehistórica de Araucanos Provenientes de la Patagonia Argentina y su Relación Biológica con Otras Poblaciones Prehistóricas Argentinas y del Mundo

Se estudio la prevalencia de 25 rasgos dentales en un grupo de craneos adultos prehispanicos, conservados en el Museo de La Plata (Argentina). Fueron analizadas ambas arcadas y la totalidad de las piezas dentales de la denticion permanente excepto los terceros molares. El principal objetivo de este estudio es establecer el patron morfologico dental, segun las frecuencias absolutas y relativas de los rasgos que caracterizan a la denticion de la serie Araucanos. Se puede concluir, por las frecuencias presentadas en los rasgos analizados, que la muestra presenta similitudes con las poblaciones mongoloides sinodontes y se aleja de las poblaciones europeas y africanas