Unit of Molecular anthropology
Lab of Molecular anthropology
tel. ++ 39 051/2094194
fax ++39 051/2094191
Group Leader: Dott. Donata Luiselli
E-mail : donata.luiselli@unibo.it
Research in progress :
- The research unit is currently investigating:
- 1) the molecular variability of African populations from Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ethiopia in order to ascertain their origin, history and migration patterns in these geographical areas. Mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA and/or autosomal DNA are analysed;
- 2) the molecular variability of genomic regions with a signature of selective pressure in human populations from different geographical areas. Diet, climate, altitude, disease, etc. may be some of the environmental forces that affect the fitness of individuals, and thereby influence variation at relevant genes and human genetic diversity as a whole. In particular, we are investigating lactose tolerance, vitamin D receptor and haptoglobin genes.
- For this purpose, we use sequence analysis and high resolution DNA markers, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short tandem repeats (STRs) with different mutation rates, to elucidate the distribution of genetic variability in relation to climate, disease and nutrition.
Funding :
PRIN 1997-1999 and PRIN 2001-2003 (MIUR) "" Influenze della struttura biodemografica sulla variabilitŕ del cromosoma Y e del DNA mitocondriale in popolazioni a diverso grado di mobilitŕ (popolazioni montane e pastori nomadi dell’Africa sub-sahariana)".
University of Bologna, 2002-2004 "Ricerca Fondamentale Orientata (EX 60%)".
Patents :
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Selected Publications :
- Fuselli S, Tarazona-Santos E, Dupanloup I, Soto A, Luiselli D, Pettener D. (2003) Mitochondrial DNA diversity in South America and the genetic history of Andean highlanders. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 20(10):1682-91.
- Bini C, Ceccardi S, Luiselli D, Ferri G, Pelotti S, Colalongo C, Falconi M, Pappalardo G. (2003) Different informativeness of the three hypervariable mitochondrial DNA regions in the population of Bologna (Italy). Forensic Science International, 29;135(1):48-52.
- Di Bacco M, Luiselli D, Manca M.L, Siciliano G. (2002) Bayesian approach to searching for susceptibility genes: Gc*2 and EsD*1 alleles and Multiple Sclerosis Collegium Anthropologicum, 26(1): 77-84.
- Tarazona-Santos E, Carvalho-Silva DR, Pettener D, Luiselli D, De Stefano G.F, Martinez Labarga C, Rickards O, Tyler-Smith C, Pena SDJ, Santos FR. (2001) . Patterns of Y-Chromosome Variation in South Amerindians. Replay to Rothhammer and Moraga American Journal of Human Genetics, 69(4): 904-906.
- Luiselli D, Maiolini E, Pelotti S, Bini C, Ferri G, Pappalardo G. (2001) The HUMFIBRA (FGA) locus in an Italian population and a world-wide frequency distribution analysis Annals of Human Biology, 4: 431-443.
- Tarazona-Santos E, Carvalho-Silva DR, Pettener D, Luiselli D, De Stefano G., Martinez Labarga C, Rickards O, Tyler-Smith C, Pena SDJ, Santos FR. (2001) Genetic differentiation in South Amerindians is related with environmental and cultural diversity: evidences from Y chromosome. American Journal of Human Genetics, 68(6): 1485-1496.
- Pelotti S, Maiolini E, Bini C, Rimondi S, Luiselli D, Pappalardo G. (2001) CAG repeat at the Human Androgen Receptor Gene (HUMARA) by automated fluorescent analysis: polymorphism evaluation in an Italian population sample and report of a new allele. American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 22: 55-57.
- Simoni L., Tarazona-Santos E., Luiselli D., Pettener D. (2000) Genetic differentiation of South-American native populations inferred from classical markers: from explorative analyses to a working hypothesis. In: Renfrew C. Editor, America Past, America Present: Genes and Languages in the Americas and Beyond, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge, Cap VIII, 125-136.
- Luiselli D, Simoni L, Tarazona-Santos E, Pastor S, Pettener D. (2000) Genetic structure of Quechua population of the Central Andes and geographic patterns of gene frequencies in South-Amerindian populations. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 113: 5-17.
- Perez Lezaun A, Calafell F, Comas D, Mateu E, Bosch E, Martinez Arias R, Clarimon J, Fiori G, Facchini F., Luiselli D, Pettener D, Bertranpetit J. (1999) Sex-specific migration patterns in Central Asian populations, revealed by analysis of Y-chromosome short tandem repeats and mtDNA. American Journal of Human Genetics 65: 208-219.
Postgraduate training :
PhD in Biodiversity and Evolution : Molecular variation of human genes under selective pressure
PhD in Anthropological Sciences
Collaborations :
-CRBA- S.Orsola Hospital- Bologna (Dr. Vilma Mantovani)
-OPENLAB- Laboratory of genetics- University of Calabria, Cosenza (Prof. Andrea Novelletto)
- National Cancer Institute /National Institutes of Health- Section on Genomic Variation Gaithersburg, MD, USA (Dr. Stephen Chanock and Dr. Eduardo Tarazona Santos)
--Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology- University of Rome “La Sapienza” (Prof. Giovanni Destro Bisol).
--Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP)-University of Porto, Portugal (Prof. Jorge Rocha).
Links :
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http://biologia.unical.it/openlab
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http://www.scienzemfn.uniroma1.it/labantro/
Research group :
Graziella Ciani (Lab technician)
Dr. Cristina Fabbri (PhD student)
Dr. Paolo Garagnani (PhD student)
Donata Luiselli (Associate professor)
