Main Population Groups Research Articles

Genetic diversity of Leishmania tropica strains isolated from clinical forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural districts of Herat province, Western Afghanistan, based on ITS1-rDNA

Despite the high incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Afghanistan, there is a little information concerning epidemiological status of the disease and phylogenetic relationship and population structure of causative agents. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of CL cases and investigate the Leishmania tropica population structure in rural districts of Heart province in the West of Afghanistan in comparison to neighboring foci. Overall, 4189 clinically suspected CL cases from 177 villages (including 12 districts) in Herat province were enrolled in the referral laboratory of WHO sub-office in Herat city from January 2012 to December 2013. 3861 cases were confirmed as CL by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained slides. ITS1 PCR–RFLP analysis showed dominance of L. tropica (more than 98%) among 127 randomly chosen samples. Analysis of the ITS1 sequences revealed 4 sequence types among the 21 L. tropica isolates. Comparison of sequence types from Herat rural districts with the representatives of L. tropica from Iran, India, and Herat city showed two main population groups (cluster A and B). All isolates from Herat province, India and Southeast, East, and Central Iran were found exclusively in cluster A. The close proximity of West Afghanistan focus and Birjand county as the capital of Southern Khorasan province in East Iran can explain relatively equal to the genetic composition of L. tropica in these two neighboring regions. In addition, two populations were found among L. tropica isolates from Herat rural districts. Main population showed more similarity to some isolates from Birjand county in East Iran while minor population probably originated from the Southeast and East Iranian L. tropica. Recent study provided valuable information concerning the population structure of L. tropica and epidemiology of ACL in the West of Afghanistan, which could be the basis for molecular epidemiology studies in other regions of Afghanistan.

The role of selection and historical factors in driving population differentiation along an elevational gradient in an island bird

Adaptation to local environmental conditions and the range dynamics of populations can influence evolutionary divergence along environmental gradients. Thus, it is important to investigate patterns of both phenotypic and genetic variations among populations to reveal the respective roles of these two types of factors in driving population differentiation. Here, we test for evidence of phenotypic and genetic structure across populations of a passerine bird (Zosterops borbonicus) distributed along a steep elevational gradient on the island of Réunion. Using 11 microsatellite loci screened in 401 individuals from 18 localities distributed along the gradient, we found that genetic differentiation occurred at two spatial levels: (i) between two main population groups corresponding to highland and lowland areas, respectively, and (ii) within each of these two groups. In contrast, several morphological traits varied gradually along the gradient. Comparison of neutral genetic differentiation (FST ) and phenotypic differentiation (PST ) showed that PST largely exceeds FST at several morphological traits, which is consistent with a role for local adaptation in driving morphological divergence along the gradient. Overall, our results revealed an area of secondary contact midway up the gradient between two major, cryptic, population groups likely diverged in allopatry. Remarkably, local adaptation has shaped phenotypic differentiation irrespective of population history, resulting in different patterns of variation along the elevational gradient. Our findings underscore the importance of understanding both historical and selective factors when trying to explain variation along environmental gradients.

BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 mutations and CHEK2 c.1100delC in different South African ethnic groups diagnosed with premenopausal and/or triple negative breast cancer.

BackgroundCurrent knowledge of the aetiology of hereditary breast cancer in the four main South African population groups (black, coloured, Indian and white) is limited. Risk assessments in the black, coloured and Indian population groups are challenging because of restricted information regarding the underlying genetic contributions to inherited breast cancer in these populations. We focused this study on premenopausal patients (diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50; n = 78) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients (n = 30) from the four South African ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and spectrum of germline mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 and to evaluate the presence of the CHEK2 c.1100delC allele in these patients.MethodsIn total, 108 South African breast cancer patients underwent mutation screening using a Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) approach in combination with Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) to detect large rearrangements in BRCA1 and BRCA2.ResultsIn 13 (12 %) patients a deleterious mutation in BRCA1/2 was detected, three of which were novel mutations in black patients. None of the study participants was found to have an unequivocal pathogenic mutation in PALB2. Two (white) patients tested positive for the CHEK2 c.1100delC mutation, however, one of these also carried a deleterious BRCA2 mutation. Additionally, six variants of unknown clinical significance were identified (4 in BRCA2, 2 in PALB2), all in black patients. Within the group of TNBC patients, a higher mutation frequency was obtained (23.3 %; 7/30) than in the group of patients diagnosed before the age of 50 (7.7 %; 6/78).ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of evaluating germline mutations in major breast cancer genes in all of the South African population groups. This NGS study shows that mutation analysis is warranted in South African patients with triple negative and/or in premenopausal breast cancer.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1913-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Phylogeography of the land snail genus Circassina (Gastropoda: Hygromiidae) implies multiple Pleistocene refugia in the western Caucasus region

The phylogeny and historical biogeography of the Caucasian land snail genus Circassina was reconstructed using multilocus amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Diversification within the group started with a divergence of populations from the western Lesser Caucasus from those of the Greater Caucasus during the late Miocene. Distinct AFLP clusters and major mitochondrial clades separated by long internal branches lend evidence to the hypothesis of separate glacial refuges in the Lesser and Greater Caucasus during the Pleistocene. High genetic distances across low geographic distances and admixture analysis revealed a phylogeographic boundary running through the Colchis lowlands, which may have been established and maintained in part by repeated transgressions of the Black Sea during the Pleistocene and Holocene. Localities in Ciscaucasia were probably colonised through long-distance dispersal across the main ridge of the Greater Caucasus. The phylogeny implies multiple independent losses of accessory genital organs, i.e. dart sac and mucus glands, within Circassina. None of the anatomically defined (sub-) species distinguished so far is monophyletic and there is gene flow between the two main population groups across the Colchis lowlands. Thus, we propose to classify these population groups as subspecies of a single species.

Genomic insights on the ethno-history of the Maya and the 'Ladinos' from Guatemala.

BackgroundGuatemala is a multiethnic and multilingual country located in Central America. The main population groups separate ‘Ladinos’ (mixed Native American-African-Spanish), and Native indigenous people of Maya descent. Among the present-day Guatemalan Maya, there are more than 20 different ethnic groups separated by different languages and cultures. Genetic variation of these communities still remains largely unexplored. The principal aim of this study is to explore the genetic variability of the Maya and ‘Ladinos’ from Guatemala by means of uniparental and ancestry informative markers (AIMs).ResultsAnalyses of uniparental genetic markers indicate that Maya have a dominant Native American ancestry (mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA]: 100%; Y-chromosome: 94%). ‘Ladino’, however, show a clear gender-bias as indicated by the large European ancestry observed in the Y-chromosome (75%) compared to the mtDNA (0%). Autosomal polymorphisms (AIMs) also mirror this marked gender-bias: (i) Native American ancestry: 92% for the Maya vs. 55% for the ‘Ladino’, and (ii) European ancestry: 8% for the Maya vs. 41% for the ‘Ladino’. In addition, the impact of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade on the present-day Guatemalan population is very low (and only occurs in the ‘Ladino’; mtDNA: 9%; AIMs: 4%), in part mirroring the fact that Guatemala has a predominant orientation to the Pacific Ocean instead of a Caribbean one. Sequencing of entire Guatemalan mitogenomes has led to improved Native American phylogeny via the addition of new haplogroups that are mainly observed in Mesoamerica and/or the North of South America.ConclusionsThe data reveal the existence of a fluid gene flow in the Mesoamerican area and a predominant unidirectional flow towards South America, most likely occurring during the Pre-Classic (1800 BC-200 AD) and the Classic (200–1000 AD) Eras of the Mesoamerican chronology, coinciding with development of the most distinctive and advanced Mesoamerican civilization, the Maya. Phylogenetic features of mtDNA data also suggest a demographic scenario that is compatible with moderate local endogamy and isolation in the Maya combined with episodes of gene exchange between ethnic groups, suggesting an ethno-genesis in the Guatemalan Maya that is recent and supported on a cultural rather than a biological basis.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1339-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Evolutionary adaptation in cow cockle Vaccaria hispanica: a potential alternative crop

Domestication is the process by which a wild plant evolves into a cultivated plant by undergoing morphological, physiological or molecular changes. These changes may be due to conscious selection (primary cultivated plant) or unconscious selection (secondary cultivated plant) by man. These evolutionary changes need to be studied to understand the transition from wild to cultivated plant. Cow cockle (Vaccaria hispanica) is a summer annual species introduced to North America from Europe. It is being considered for commercial production because of its seed constituents. The purpose of this study is to determine which cow cockle populations are best adapted to cultivation and the plant characteristics that are responsible for such adaptation. We compared 15 cultivated and wild cow cockle populations from different parts of the world for 12 agronomic and morphological traits. Multivariate analyses were performed to group populations according to their agronomic and morphological similarity. Cluster analysis revealed three main population groups among the 15 accessions based on the traits studied. Two linear discriminants were obtained by discriminant function analysis accounting for 96 % of the variability among the populations. Analysis of variance showed significant (P < 0.001) differences for most of the characters studied; however populations did not differ for emergence and disease resistance. Physiological maturity, seed size, plant height, flower size and seed yield were responsible for the divergence in cow cockle populations. The cluster including the cultivars Pink Beauty, Turkey, PB-87, Scott and UMan-89 were characterized by taller plants (~58 cm), production of large seeds (~7.7 g) and high seed yield (~2,400 kg ha−1). A high agronomic potential in these populations may be due to pre-adaptation towards domestication, which they might have acquired through the convergent adaptation to large-seeded crops. Although some populations showed adaptation to cultivation, characters relating to their seed dispersal may need further selection, and can be viewed as variants that are prepared for initial stage of domestication.

Diabetes and work: 12-year national follow-up study of the association of diabetes incidence with socioeconomic group, age, gender and country of origin.

To investigate the extent and socioeconomic distribution of incident diabetes among the Danish working-age population. The Danish National Diabetes Register was linked with socioeconomic and population-based registers covering the entire population. We analysed the 12-year diabetes incidence using multivariate Poisson regression for 2,086,682 people, adjusting for gender, 10-year age groups, main population groups defined by country of origin, and seven socioeconomic groups: professionals, managers, technicians, workers skilled at basic level, unskilled workers, unemployed and pensioners. The crude 12-year incidence of diabetes was 5.8%. The saturated multivariate model, adjusted for gender, age, country of origin and socioeconomic status; showed a relative risk (RR) for diabetes incidence of 1.44 for male (reference: female), 3.95 for the age range of 50-59 years (reference: 30-39 years), 2.07 for unskilled workers (reference: professionals) and 2.15 for people from countries of 'non-Western origin' (reference: Danish origin). Diabetes incidence increases with age, male gender and low socioeconomic status; and also among people from countries of 'non-Western origin'. The results indicate that getting a more senior workforce will substantially increase the proportion of workers with diabetes, especially among already vulnerable groups.

Landscape factors affect the genetic population structure of Oncorhynchus mykiss populations in Hood Canal, Washington

Among salmonids, local adaptation can reduce gene flow among populations, which can then lead to population sub-division. As such, it is important to understand what landscape variables affect local adaptation, especially for populations for which conservation concerns exist. By examining allele frequencies at 15 microsatellite DNA loci from anadromous (steelhead) and freshwater resident (rainbow trout) Oncorhynchus mykiss collected from 7 Hood Canal, Washington rivers, we surveyed the genetic population structure within and among populations, and examined the landscape factors that could be affecting their genetic population structure. We found that samples from within a river system were more genetically similar to each other regardless of life history type or sampling location than they were to similar types from other rivers. Rainbow trout samples had lower genetic diversity then steelhead samples. We identified two main population groups among the steelhead samples. Genetic distance among populations was most strongly influenced by the populations’ locations on one of two peninsulas, and to a lesser extent, river flow rate and hydrological characteristics. These factors influence genetic population structure and local adaptation more than geographic distance, river gradient, or mean annual river temperature.

Landscape evolution and phylogeography of Micrablepharus atticolus (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae), an endemic lizard of the Brazilian Cerrado

AbstractAimOur aims were to investigate the spatial genetic structure of Micrablepharus atticolus and to assess the relative importance of differentiation in plateaus versus depressions, in areas of historical stability versus instability, and in central versus peripheral regions.LocationThe Brazilian Cerrado.MethodsWe compared the elevational range of M. atticolus with that of its sister species, Micrablepharus maximiliani, to investigate their putative elevational segregation. We identified past (6, 21 and 130 ka) and current variables associated with the distribution of M. atticolus. Based on cytochrome b sequences, we compared genetic diversity indexes and neutrality statistics between plateau/depression, stable/unstable and core/periphery populations. We identified geographically homogeneous and maximally differentiated groups of populations and tested the association between genetic and geographical distances. Finally, we traced elevational range on the phylogeny and tested for a significant phylogenetic signal associated with elevation.ResultsWe found no elevational segregation between M. atticolus and M. maximiliani. There is high genetic diversity and structuring among populations, with the primary differentiation occurring between north‐eastern and south‐western Cerrado localities. We recognized three main groups of populations that roughly correspond to the southern, central‐northern and north‐western portions of the Cerrado, which diverged between 3.5 and 1.5 Ma. Genetic diversity indices indicated no differences between plateaus and depressions or stable and unstable areas, but samples from peripheral isolates in south‐western Amazonia exhibited low haplotype and nucleotide diversity and signs of population expansion.Main conclusionsThe diversification of M. atticolus in the Cerrado was primarily affected by events in the late Neogene. We found no support for the plateau/depression and stability/instability hypotheses, but we did find support for the core/periphery hypothesis. The spatial patterns seemingly resulted from a combination of shifting environmental conditions during climatic cycles, with repeated colonizations of plateaus and depressions, isolation by distance, and divergence in and recolonization of peripheral isolates within Amazonia.

Action Protocols in DNA Identification of Isolated Populations

This paper presents the basic problems and difficulties that can be found when working with isolated populations as far as propose some approaches in the analysis of this type of populations. 13 autosomal STRs have been analyzed and statistical forensic parameters, such as observed heterozygosity and power of discrimination have been determined, in samples from isolated and non-isolated populations. Samples were amplified with AmpFlSTR®Identifiler® kit (Applied Biosystems) and PowerPlex 16®kit (Promega). For DNA typing, an ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer was used, and the analysis was performed with GeneMapper ID-X Software v1.1. PowerStats software and SPSS v15.0 were used to calculate forensic and other parameters.The analysis is based on the comparison of three main population groups (large, medium, and small), and an estimation of the forensic parameters, such as discrimination power (PD), observed heterozygosity (Ho), and combined PD, was obtained.The obtained results reveal that heterozygosity and PD are lower in aboriginal populations than in other populations. This research contributes to defining the decrease in allele presence caused by the lower size of a population as far as endogamy processes.To obtain an efficient human identification, it is necessary to generate independent databases for all the different populations, including small isolated groups. Action protocols to these kinds of populations have to be adapted: type as many markers as possible, not only autosomal STR but also mitochondrial DNA and sexual chromosome markers and characterize those one that better describe the population, and also get genetic information of close relatives as far as direct references of the individual.

Aborigines, colonizers and newcomers: the landscape of transcultural psychiatry research in Australia.

The authors present an analysis of transcultural psychiatry research in relation to three main population groups in Australia: Aboriginal Australians, documented immigrants, and refugees. The pioneering reports produced by Western psychiatrists in Aboriginal communities are examined in this article. Additional quantitative and qualitative studies developed with Aboriginal people in the context of a traumatic acculturation process are also reviewed. Subsequently, the authors examine the challenges faced by immigrants with mental disorders in a health care system still unequipped to treat a new array of clinical presentations unfamiliar to the clinical staff. The authors also highlight the development of policies aimed at providing quality mental health care to a mosaic of cultures in an evolving multicultural society. Lastly, the psychiatric manifestations of refugees and asylum seekers are analysed in the context of a series of vulnerabilities and deprivations they have experienced, including basic human rights.

Population genetics of Atlantic salmon and brown trout and its relevance for management of genetic resources

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) are genetically highly structured species. The structuring on a broad distributional scale is the result of the glacial and postglacial history, therefore in Europe several main population groups of Atlantic salmon and anadromous form of brown trout, sea trout, have been identified and divergent sources of origin of these groups have been proposed. The pattern of substantial microgeographical differentiation results from the joint action of gene flow, genetic drift, mutation, and natural selection. It is important to understand the effects that the last glaciations have had on the distribution and genetic diversity of these species as well as how selection, genetic drift and gene flow can affect genetic variation within populations and genetic differences between populations in order to fully comprehend the genetic structure of populations and to implement the knowledge for conservation. Genetic management is an important component of strategies that ensure the conservation and recovery of salmon and trout populations. The major issues of genetic management are related with monitoring and conserving gene-level biodiversity, resolving spatio-temporal population structure as well as with genetic consequences of stocking practices. Studies of the population genetic structure are essential for providing estimates of the different sources of variation that determine species’ genetic composition over the geographic area. Knowledge from studies describing spatial and temporal genetic structure is needed to identify and analyze changes of gene level diversity caused by human mediated harvest as well as enhancement practices. Ignoring or not knowing the genetic population structure may result in loss of genetic diversity, reduced productivity and ecological damage. In Lithuania, future management considerations should focus both on maintaining individual populations even at tributary level and ensuring natural levels of gene flow among populations.

‘To do the Cape’: Samuel Daniell’s representation of African peoples during the first British occupation of the Cape

Samuel Daniell’s African Scenery and Animals of 1804–5 is justly celebrated in the literature of art history as one of the most beautiful accounts of African life of any time, but has been rather neglected by other historians. This paper considers how this major project is likely to have taken shape, situating it in the context of the first British occupation of the Cape in order to reveal the ideological dimensions of his representation of African peoples. The paper argues that Daniell’s visit to the Cape from 1799 to 1803 is likely to have been inspired by his relatives’, William and Thomas Daniell’s work in India, notably their Oriental Scenery of 1795–8, and that his view of Southern Africa developed as he travelled through the sub-continent in the company of British officials. At a time before Britain had any formal colonial ambitions at the Cape, its officials developed distinct images of the three main population groups occupying the territory – the Dutch colonists (the ‘Boors’), the Xhosa (so-called ‘Kaffers’) beyond the borders, and the Khoisan (so-called ‘Hottentots’ and ‘Bushmen’) whose fortunes contrasted strongly whether they lived inside the colony, in conditions of slavery on Boer farms, or outside the colony in a state of freedom. Daniell gave visual form to these images, notably through the classical language of art, and so expressed the turmoil on the frontier as a contest between the Enlightenment terms of liberty and oppression.

STRATEGIC MILITARY COLONISATION: THE CAPE EASTERN FRONTIER 1806–1872

The Cape Eastern Frontier of South Africa offers a fascinating insight into British military strategy as well as colonial development. The Eastern Frontier was for over 100 years a very turbulent frontier. It was the area where the four main population groups (the Dutch, the British, the Xhosa and the Khoikhoi) met, and in many respects, key decisions taken on this frontier were seminal in the shaping of South Africa. This article seeks to analyse this frontier in a spatial manner, to analyse how British settlement patterns on the ground were influenced by strategy and policy. The time frame of the study reflects the truly imperial colonial era, from the second British occupation of the Cape colony in 1806 until representative self-governance of the Cape colony in 1872.

Tectonic history of the Zhangguangcailing Group in eastern Heilongjiang Province, NE China: Constraints from U–Pb geochronology of detrital and magmatic zircons

In this paper we present U–Pb age data of detrital and magmatic zircons from sedimentary and volcanic rocks in the Zhangguangcailing Group (ZG), NE China, to constrain the tectonic evolution of the region as a whole. The ZG consists of slightly metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks, and from bottom to top is divided into the Zhenggou, Hongguang, and Xinxing suites. Zircons from three schists in the Zhenggou suite give 12 main groups of age populations (from 226 to 861Ma), whereas zircons from a basaltic andesite give a Late Triassic age (211±2Ma). In the Hongguang suite, zircons from two schists and a greywacke give 6 main groups, 5 main groups, and 3 main groups of age populations (from 262 to 916Ma), respectively, whereas zircons from a gabbro–diorite and two volcanic rocks give ages of 259, 219, and 317Ma, respectively. Zircons from a schist in the Xinxing suite give 12 main groups of age populations (from 284 to 1837Ma). These results, together with the field relationships of the rocks, indicate (1) that the sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the ZG have diverse ages (from Early Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic), (2) that the rocks do not lie in a logical stratigraphic sequence, and (3) that the rocks represent a tectonic mélange. Based on the youngest age (211Ma) for volcanic rocks within the ZG, and the age of deformation (174–184Ma) of the Heilongjiang Complex, we propose that the tectonic mélange formed during the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic. Furthermore, the occurrence of detrital zircons with ages of 0.8–0.9, 1.8, and 2.4–2.5Ga implies the existence of Neoproterozoic magmatism and the remnants of a Precambrian basement in the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif, NE China.

Wing size and shape variation of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) populations from the south and north slopes of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco

The wing shape and size morphology of populations of the medically important phlebotomine sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi, were examined in two endemic (south of the Atlas Mountains) and nonendemic (north of the Atlas Mountains) foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis by using geometric morphometrics in Morocco. Although it is present in all of Morocco, P. papatasi is the main vector of Leishmania major in only southern part of the Atlas Mountains. There are four major mountain ranges that serve as geographical barriers for species distribution in the study area and at least four gaps were recognized among these barriers. We found statistically significant differences in wing shape morphology between southern and northern populations. Analysis clearly recognized two main groups of populations on both sides of the mountains. The graphical depiction of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Canonical Variates Analysis (CVA) confirmed our morphometric study suggesting that the difference in wing morphology between the populations indicates that the population of P. papatasi shows phenotypic plasticity in the study area. According to centroid size analyses, which were used as measures of wing size differences among different sites, the north population of P. papatasi had relatively larger wings than the south population.

Microsatellite variation suggests a recent fine-scale population structure of Drosophila sechellia, a species endemic of the Seychelles archipelago

Drosophila sechellia is closely related to the cosmopolitan and widespread model species, D. simulans. This species, endemic to the Seychelles archipelago, is specialized on the fruits of Morinda citrifolia, and harbours the lowest overall genetic diversity compared to other species of Drosophila. This low diversity is associated with a small population size. In addition, no obvious population structure has been evidenced so far across islands of the Seychelles archipelago. Here, a microsatellite panel of 17 loci in ten populations from nine islands of the Seychelles was used to assess the effect of the D. sechellia's fragmented distribution on the fine-scale population genetic structure, the migration pattern, as well as on the demography of the species. Contrary to previous results, also based on microsatellites, no evidence for population contraction in D. sechellia was found. The results confirm previous studies based on gene sequence polymorphism that showed a long-term stable population size for this species. Interestingly, a pattern of Isolation By Distance which had not been described yet in D. sechellia was found, with evidence of first-generation migrants between some neighbouring islands. Bayesian structuring algorithm results were consistent with a split of D. sechellia into two main groups of populations: Silhouette/Mahé versus all the other islands. Thus, microsatellites suggest that variability in D. sechellia is most likely explained by local genetic exchanges between neighbouring islands that have recently resulted in slight differentiation of the two largest island populations from all the others.

Altitudinal variation in the morphometric characteristics of Aedes vexans Meigen from northeastern Turkey

Body size is one of the most significant features of organisms and is correlated with a large number of ecological and physiological variables. Similar to size, biological shape is one of the most conspicuous aspects of an organism's phenotype and provides a link between the genotype and the environment. Body size may change with altitude and also habitat differences associated with altitude may affect the biological shape and some morphological characteristics. Four populations of Aedes vexans Meigen occurring in different ecological subregions at altitudes between 808-1,620 m in the Aras Valley from northeastern Turkey were compared using traditional and geometric morphometrics. When the wing shape differences of populations were analyzed by UPGM, the cluster analyses recognized two main groups of populations. Gödekli (808 m) comprised the first group while Zülfikar (848 m), Sürmeli (944 m), and Cilehane (1,620 m) populations comprised the second group. In the second group, Zülfikar and Cilehane populations showed a similar grouping pattern while Sürmeli appeared as a different group. Centroid sizes were used as measures of overall wing size differences among different regions. Aedes vexans from the Sürmeli region had relatively larger wings.

Genetic analysis of silver-fir populations in the North Carpathian and Sudeten Mountains

Seeds collected from individual trees in the 16 Carpathian and 2 Sudeten silver-fir (&lt;em&gt;Abies alba&lt;/em&gt;) populations were studied with the starch gel electrophoresis in megagametophytes using 14 enzyme systems with 28 loci. The results show that the geographical distance between populations are in a small part reflected in genetic distances. There are two main groups of populations: Sudeten and Carpathian with a very big genetic distance between them. Other populations consist of a few small groups with low gene flow between them (&lt;em&gt;N&lt;sub&gt;m&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/em&gt; = 3.286). About 80% of genetic variation is located within populations (&lt;em&gt;F&lt;sub&gt;ST&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/em&gt; = 0.223). Average values for genetic multiplicity and diversity for Carpathian populations are as follows: number of alleles per locus: &lt;em&gt;Na&lt;/em&gt; = 2.308, with effective number of alleles &lt;em&gt;Ne&lt;/em&gt; = 1.552 and proportion of polymorphic loci 71.21%. The mean number of alleles per locus (&lt;em&gt;Na&lt;/em&gt;) varied from 2.107 to 2.607 in population. The mean effective number of alleles per locus (&lt;em&gt;Ne&lt;/em&gt;) ranged from 1.429 to 1.662. Average Fis for Carpathian populations was -0.021, which means that there is small excess of heterozygotes. The average observed heterozygosity amounted to &lt;em&gt;Ho&lt;/em&gt; = 0.275 and expected heterozygosity was &lt;em&gt;He&lt;/em&gt; = 0.269. The dendrogram structure and presence of rare alleles found in silver-fir of Czech, and Slovakian populations allow for a hypothesis that in postglaciation the silver-fir moved into the Polish Carpathians not westward from the east but from the south along river valleys from some Balkan refuges, getting North bypassing the High Tatra Range. This way, a highly diversified set of populations originated, differ in the presence of rare alleles. This differentiation is not prevented by a relatively small flow of genes between populations. The calculated gene flow &lt;em&gt;Nm&lt;/em&gt; = 3.286 also indicates isolation between the populations. It means 3.3 immigrants per generation into the studied populations.

Insights into the Genetic History of French Cattle from Dense SNP Data on 47 Worldwide Breeds

BackgroundModern cattle originate from populations of the wild extinct aurochs through a few domestication events which occurred about 8,000 years ago. Newly domesticated populations subsequently spread worldwide following breeder migration routes. The resulting complex historical origins associated with both natural and artificial selection have led to the differentiation of numerous different cattle breeds displaying a broad phenotypic variety over a short period of time.Methodology/Principal FindingsThis study gives a detailed assessment of cattle genetic diversity based on 1,121 individuals sampled in 47 populations from different parts of the world (with a special focus on French cattle) genotyped for 44,706 autosomal SNPs. The analyzed data set consisted of new genotypes for 296 individuals representing 14 French cattle breeds which were combined to those available from three previously published studies. After characterizing SNP polymorphism in the different populations, we performed a detailed analysis of genetic structure at both the individual and population levels. We further searched for spatial patterns of genetic diversity among 23 European populations, most of them being of French origin, under the recently developed spatial Principal Component analysis framework.Conclusions/SignificanceOverall, such high throughput genotyping data confirmed a clear partitioning of the cattle genetic diversity into distinct breeds. In addition, patterns of differentiation among the three main groups of populations—the African taurine, the European taurine and zebus—may provide some additional support for three distinct domestication centres. Finally, among the European cattle breeds investigated, spatial patterns of genetic diversity were found in good agreement with the two main migration routes towards France, initially postulated based on archeological evidence.