A 2013 study by Peristera Paschou et al. Climate changes and post-glacial migrations. Interestingly, the population of Volterra, an ancient town of Etruscan origin in Tuscany, displays a unique Y-chromosomal genetic … It is the ancient Greekswho had the biggest impact on the genetic make-up of southern Italy. In fact, in 402 the city became the imperial residence of the west and the capital of the Theodoric Kingdom, as well as the seat of the Byzantine domination in Italy. This would appear to support of Greek or West Anatolian origin. This page was last modified on 1 June 2016, at 07:23. A 2012 study by Di Gaetano et al. Li et al. "We observed that some of these genetic variants have been also linked to a longer lifespan. Although Italy has been a favorite subject for numerous population genetic studies, genetic patterns have never been analyzed comprehensively, including uniparental and autosomal markers throughout the country.[1]. It was carried to Europe by migrations c. 20-25,000 years ago, and spread with population of the southwest of the continent. [11], In Sicily, further migrations from the Vandals, Normans and Saracens have only slightly affected the ethnic composition of the Sicilian people. However, Greek genetic influence is high in Sicily, at almost 37%. First, they compared these data against the genetic variants observed in other 35 populations from Europe and from the Mediterranean. were reported with the given results as "Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of African origin are mainly represented by haplogroups M1 (0.3%), U6 (0.8%) and L (1.2%)" for the 583 samples tested. Italy was one of the t… The genomes of people from southern Italy show changes in the genes encoding for mucins, which are proteins found in the mucous membranes of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems and that prevent pathogens from attacking the tissues. found 0 of African L haplogroup in the whole Italy out of 865 samples. Nineteen thousand years ago, after the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, ancestors of northern and southern Italians started living in increasingly different environmental and ecological contexts, which gradually led to the emergence of differences and peculiarities in their gene pools. [1], A 2013 study by Alessio Boattini et al. 1992 Nov; 8 … Trends Genet. Earliest evidence of Italians' extraordinary genetic diversity dates back to 19,000 years ago. presents the first analysis using the 125,799 genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) data of 1,014 Italians with wide geographical coverage. 40,000 years ago) to the Bronze Age (approx. stated that an analysis of ancestral informative markers "as carried out in the present study indicated that Italy shows a very minor sub-Saharan African component that is, however, slightly higher than non-Mediterranean Europe." [28][29], Recent studies have shown that Italy has played an important role in the recovery of 'Western Europe" at the end of the Last glacial period. The second goal of the Italy DNA Project to further our understanding of the genetic makeup and genetic history of what is now Italy. It shows the Etruscans came from the area which is now Turkey - and that the nearest genetic relatives of many of today's Tuscans and Umbrians are to be found, not in Italy, but around Izmir. Nevertheless, previous studies focused on the genetic history of Italians mostly relied on inferences drawn from the analysis of single genetic systems (i.e., mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome) or of moderate-to-high frequency autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). part may be reproduced without the written permission. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. This amazing diversity started to accumulate soon after the Late Glacial Maximum, which ended approximately 19,000 years ago. Recent genome-wide studies have been able to detect and quantify admixture like never before. Click here to sign in with Still about 4% of the female population in Sardinia belongs to this haplotype. Piazza A, Cappello N, Olivetti E, Rendine S. A genetic history of Italy. [20], Close genetic similarity between Ashkenazi Jews and Italians has been noted in genetic studies. "This investigation provides valuable information in order to fully appreciate the biological characteristics of the current Italian population. Thank you for taking your time to send in your valued opinion to Science X editors. Conversely, in southern Italians, these post-glacial migrations traces seem to vanish, as more recent events significantly reshaped their gene pool. Other Italians pull away toward Southeastern and Central Europe consistent with geography and some post-Neolithic gene flow from those areas (e.g. This percentage lowers at the extreme south of Italy in Sicily (30%). Population structure of Southern Italy within the Euro-Mediterranean genetic landscape. The DNA of people living in northern Italy shows traces of these post-glacial migrations. "[1] These mtDNAs by Brisighelli "et al." "These genetic adaptations may have evolved in response to ancient micro-organisms," says Paolo Abondio, Ph.D. student at the University of Bologna and another co-first author of this study. Y-DNA genetic diversity. 1978; Piazza et al. 1988 Jul; 52 (Pt 3):203–213. These peculiarities contribute to reducing the risk of kidney inflammation and skin cancers, and the risk of diabetes and obesity, favoring a longer lifespan. This is due in part to the presence of the Alpine mountain chain which, over the centuries, has prevented large migration flows aimed at colonizing the Italian lands. In Europe, Italians have the highest genetic diversity. The other genetic stream comes from northern Asia, through northern Europe and down western Europe into the northern Italian Peninsula. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no The Norman Kingdom of Sicily was created in 1130, with Palermo as capital, and would last until the 19th century. The analysis brought to the fore more than 17 million genetic variants. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), which lasted approximately from 26,500 to 19,000 years ago, most of northern and central Europe was covered by ice sheets and was virtually uninhabitable for humans. Scientists then made a twofold comparison. The majority of Italians, Sicilians and Corsicans … The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. The spectrum of cystic fibrosis mutations. Three thirds of this time corresponds to the Ice Age, a period when humans lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers in small tribes. The highest frequency of R1b is found in Garfagnana (~ 80%), Tuscany. The modern Irish population share many genetic similarities with Scottish and Welsh populations, and to a lesser extent the English. The spread of subclades H1, H3 and the sister haplogroup V reflect a second intra-European expansion from the Franco-Cantabrian region after the last glacial maximum, c. 13,000 years ago. or, by University of Bologna. Genetic history of Italy During prehistory Italy was populated by different but very similarn European groups, later collectively listed amongst the Ancient peoples of Italy, of whom the Italic one was predominant. Not all of these various peoples were linguistically or ethnically closely related. [10], Migrations that occurred on Italian soil from the fall of the Western Roman Empire until 1000 AD have probably not significantly altered the gene pool of the Italian people. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. The study, published Nov. 8 in Science, focuses on the ancient DNA of individuals from Rome and adjacent regions in Italy. This time, all of the European samples show some minor admixture. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27] A 2010 study of Jewish genealogy found that with respect to non-Jewish European groups, the population most closely related to Ashkenazi Jews are modern-day Italians, followed by the French and Sardinians. A genetic history of Italy A genetic history of Italy PIAZZA, A.; CAPPELLO, N.; OLIVETTI, E.; RENDINE, S. 1988-07-01 00:00:00 Summary Statistical techniques for displaying the geographical distribution of many genes in few synthetic images have been used to represent the various patterns of gene frequencies in Europe and in the world (Menozzi et al. [19], A 2014 study by Stefania Sarno et al. Ann Hum Genet. For example, there are some modifications in the genes regulating the production of melanin, the pigment that provides colour to the skin. Nowadays it is in north-west Sicily, around Palermo and Trapani, that Norman Y-DNA is the most common, with 8 to 15% of the lineages belonging to haplogroup I. For instance, populations in northern Italy developed a metabolism optimized for a diet rich in calories and animal fat, which are essential to survive in cold climates. Only two Berber U6 out of 115 samples were found, one from Lecce and one from Cosenza. For millennia, the populations resettling in northern Italy endured abrupt climate changes and environmental pressures similar to those of the Last Glacial Maximum. By combining our resources, we hope to make sense of the historical impact of population migrations and expansions. The content is provided for information purposes only. "These changes could have resulted in key factors reducing the susceptibility to diseases like diabetes and obesity. Ancient DNA analysis reveals that Ötzi the Iceman clusters with modern Southern Europeans and closest to Italians (the orange "Europe S" dots in the plots below), especially those from the island of Sardinia. The gradient of their genetic variability, scattered all over the peninsula, encloses on a small scale the whole genetic variance between southern and continental Europeans. This document is subject to copyright. The study, titled "Genomic history of the Italian population recapitulates key evolutionary dynamics of both Continental and Southern Europeans," was published in BMC Biology. Enough reasons to believe in airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2? You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take appropriate actions. Europe has been inhabited by modern humans for over 40,000 years. "In the subjects from northern Italy, we observed changes in the gene networks regulating insulin and body-heat production as well as in those responsible for fat tissue metabolism," says Paolo Garagnani, professor of experimental medicine and pathophysiology at the University of Bologna. A new study of the genetic history of Sardinia, a Mediterranean island off the western coast of Italy, analyzed genome-wide DNA data for 70 individuals from … (2009) typed the same samples at close to 1 million SNPs and analyzed them in a Western Eurasian context, identifying a number of subclusters. Just as almost everybody in Europe, Southern Italians can trace most of their heritage to prehistoric times. confirms that the Mediterranean Sea has acted as a strong barrier to gene flow through geographic isolation following initial settlements. These circumstances brought to the evolution of specific biological adaptations. From the 8th century BCE the Greeks set up colonies all along the coasts of Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, southern Apulia, and Sicily (except the western tip) in … In 2008, Dutch geneticists determined that Italy is one of the last two remaining genetic islands in Europe (the other being Finland.) Medical research advances and health news, The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances, The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web. [2], The majority of Italians, Sicilians and Corsicans belong to Haplogroup R1b, common in Western and Central Europe. Nine-hundred and twenty-two individuals belonging to the five provinces of Puglia were typed for nine erythrocyte genetic markers (ACP1, ADA, AK1, ESD, GLO1, PGD, PGM1, PGM2, and SODA). Differently from the north of Italy, the south was a main hub for migratory movements, which first spread agriculture to the Mediterranean area during the Neolithic transition, and then, during Bronze Age, fostered a new ancestry component. Not all of these various peoples were linguistically or ethnically closely related. Why is life so much more resilient than machines? Later in the same article it says that "In Italy as elsewhere in Europe the most common haplogroup is haplogroup H", which would seem to contradict the genetic island theory. This subclade U5b3a1 later came from Provence to the island of Sardinia by obsidian merchants, as it is estimated that 80% of obsidian found in France comes from Monte Arci in Sardinia reflecting the close relations that were at the time of these two regions. If compared to individuals from southern Italy, Italians from the north present a close genetic relation to human remains attributed to ancient European cultures such as the Magdalenian and the Epigravettian cultures and dated respectively between 19,000 and 14,000 years ago and between 14,000 and 9,000 years ago. Researchers traced the evolutionary history of the two groups at the opposite ends of Italians' gradient of genetic variability. The few demographic pieces of information taken from historical sources and compared with linguistic records support the hypothesis that the genetic structure of Italy still reflects the ethnic stratification of pre‐Roman times. These are found on genes involved in the arachidonic acid metabolism and on those encoding for FoxO transcription factors," according to Claudio Franceschi, emeritus professor of the University of Bologna. Ultimately, the North African male contribution to Sicily was estimated 6%. Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Because of its crucial position at the centre of the Mediterranean basin, the Italian peninsula has experienced a complex history of colonization and migration, whose genetic signatures are still present in contemporary Italians. López Herráez et al. "Some scholars have linked some of these genetic variants with a reduced susceptibility to Berger's disease, which is a common inflammation affecting the kidneys and is indeed less frequent in the south than in the north of Italy.". [15][17], African Haplogroup L lineages are relatively infrequent (less than 1%) throughout Italy with the exception of Latium, Volterra, Basilicata and Sicily where frequencies between 2 and 3% have been found. Northern Italy probably has a little more swiss or alps blood than the rest of italy because the first italic speakers came from around the alps and migrated to italy about 3,200ybp but they put more genetic input into northern italy Then Gauls that setlled some parts of northern italy came from either modern france or around the alps but i doubt the celts make a significant amount of ancestry for … All the Italian samples belong to Central-Western group with minor influences dating to Neolitich period. "Gaining an understanding of the evolutionary history of the ancestors of Italians allows us to better grasp the demographic processes and those of environmental interactions that shaped the complex mosaic of ancestry components of today's European populations," explains Marco Sazzini, one of the principal investigators of this study and professor of molecular anthropology at the University of Bologna. [11][page needed] Despite the lengthy Goth and Lombard presence in Italy, it is estimated that the I1 haplogroup associated with the Germanic peoples is only present among Italians in the north in the order of 2-3% and from 1 to 1.5% among Italians in the south. The percentages for Berber M1 and U6 haplogroups were 0.46% and 0.35% respectively. "However, we observed a significant variation between their gene pools from the Late Glacial period, thus some thousands of years before those great migrations that happened in Italy from the Neolithic onward.". This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:Genetic history of ItalyListening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Ancient DNA unveils important missing piece of human history, Holographic metasurface gas sensors for instantaneous visual alarms, Teaching children to play chess found to decrease risk aversion, Despite promises by IOC, sustainability of Olympics has been decreasing, Study inspects chemical composition of NGC 6544, Reaction to COVID-19 Vaccine (or what to be prepared for). This means that they evaluated and measured differences between the gene pools of participants from southern and northern Italy and observed when these differences became evident. Italics, Greeks, Etruscans, Celts), but despite that and centuries of history, they're still very similar to their prehistoric ancestor. It is the first time that researchers have traced Italians' genetic history. Moreover, in northern Italians' gene pool, the researchers observed ancestry components that were even more ancient, such as those proper of eastern European hunter-gatherers, which are thought to characterize all European populations between 36,000 and 26,000 years ago, and that later on spread to western Europe with migratory movements from "glacial refugia" during the Late Glacial period. Here, the main hypothesis is that with temperatures rising and glaciers shrinking, some groups of people who made it through the glaciation period thanks to "glacial refugia" in central Italy, moved north and drifted away, thus progressively isolating themselves from the inhabitants of southern Italy. These comparisons reached such high levels of precision that it was possible to extend the investigation to very remote time periods with respect to those achieved by previous studies. (1)Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. [15][16] Its arrival was roughly contemporary with the rise of the Gravettian culture. This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, and provide content from third parties. This is confirmed by their closer genetic relation with Neolithic human remains from Anatolia and the Middle East, and with Bronze-Age remains from south Caucasus. To carry out this study, researchers sequenced the entire genome of 40 participants who were selected as representatives of the biological variability of the Italian population with a good approximation. At the same time, DNA testing of remains of ancient Irish people suggests that some of the earliest human arrivals on the island originally came from mu… In a new study, Stanford researchers and their European colleagues drew on ancient DNA to construct the first genetic history of Rome. Y-haplogroups in Europe. 4/138=2.90% in Latium, 3/114=2.63% in Volterra, 2/92=2.20% in Basilicata and 3/154=2% in Sicily, Y-DNA haplogroups in European populations, "Uniparental Markers of Contemporary Italian Population Reveals Details on Its Pre-Roman Heritage", Y-Chromosome haplogroup I prehistoric gene flow in Europe, https://www.familytreedna.com/pdf/italy.pdf, "Y chromosome genetic variation in the Italian peninsula is clinal", "Origin, Diffusion, and Differentiation of Y-Chromosome Haplogroups E and J: Inferences on the Neolithization of Europe and Later Migratory Events in the Mediterranean Area", "The History and Geography of Human Genes", "Differential Greek and northern African migrations to Sicily are supported by genetic evidence from the Y chromosome", "Moors and Saracens in Europe, estimating the medieval North African male legacy in southern Europe", "Traces of forgotten historical events in mountain communities in Central Italy: A genetic insight", "High-resolution mtDNA evidence for the late-glacial resettlement of Europe from an Iberian refugium", "Tracing European Founder Lineages in the Near Eastern mtDNA Pool", "The Molecular Dissection of mtDNA Haplogroup H Confirms That the Franco-Cantabrian Glacial Refuge Was a Major Source for the European Gene Pool", "Mitochondrial DNA variation of modern Tuscans supports the near eastern origin of Etruscans", "Uniparental Markers in Italy Reveal a Sex-Biased Genetic Structure and Different Historical Strata", "An Ancient Mediterranean Melting Pot: Investigating the Uniparental Genetic Structure and Population History of Sicily and Southern Italy", "The origin of Eastern European Jews revealed by autosomal, sex chromosomal and mtDNA polymorphisms", "A substantial prehistoric European ancestry amongst Ashkenazi maternal lineages", "European population genetic substructure: further definition of ancestry informative markers for distinguishing among diverse European ethnic groups", "Abraham's Children in the Genome Era: Major Jewish Diaspora Populations Comprise Distinct Genetic Clusters with Shared Middle Eastern Ancestry", http://hagsc.org/myerslab/papers/LiAbsher-Science-HGDP.pdf, "Genetic Variation and Recent Positive Selection in Worldwide Human Populations: Evidence from Nearly 1 Million SNPs", "An Overview of the Genetic Structure within the Italian Population from Genome-Wide Data", "Maritime route of colonization of Europe", "New insights into the Tyrolean Iceman's origin and phenotype as inferred by whole-genome sequencing", https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Genetic_history_of_Italy&oldid=723150097, Articles with inconsistent citation formats, Articles that may contain original research from October 2011, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from April 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, From the 8th century BC Greek colonists settle on the southern coast and in Sicily and found cities, initiating what was later called, With the fall of the Western Roman Empire, different populations of German origin invaded Italy, the most significant was that of the. It showed by using Principal Component analysis and model-based individual ancestry analysis, that the current population of Sardinia can be clearly differentiated genetically from mainland Italy and Sicily, and that a certain degree of genetic differentiation is detectable within the current Italian peninsula population. In the thirteenth century Frederick II turned against the Muslims in Sicily (during the preceding century most had converted to Catholicism) and between 1221 and 1226 he moved all to the city of Lucera in Puglia. Your opinions are important to us. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy [14], In Italy as elsewhere in Europe the majority of mtdna lineages belong to the haplogroup H. Several independent studies conclude that haplogroup H probably evolved in West Asia c. 25,000 years ago. Conclusions: A complex genetic structure reflecting the multifaceted peopling pattern of the Peninsula emerged: southern populations show high similarity with those from the Middle East and Southern Balkans, while those from Northern Italy are close to populations of North-Western Europe and the Northern Balkans. ~ 80 % ), Tuscany genetic variability R1b, common in western and Central.. [ 1 ], a 2013 study by Semino et al. reasons to believe in airborne transmission of?! Of Italy in Sicily ( 30 % ) to vanish, as more recent events significantly their... 2014 study by Alessio Boattini et al. Policy and Terms of use time to send in your message... Of skin cancers among southern Italians or, by University of Bologna of! Genome-Wide studies have been also linked to a lower incidence of skin cancers among southern Italians this time, of... Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study genetic history of italy research, part... 52 ( Pt 3 ):203–213 to Mesolotich European haplogroup I2a1a from the Mediterranean and 0.35 %.. To gene flow through geographic isolation following initial settlements the rise of the genetic makeup and genetic.. Volume of correspondence percentage lowers at the opposite ends of Italians, Sicilians and Corsicans to... Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, the North African male contribution to was... In mainland southern Italy that provides colour to the haplogroup subclade U5b3a1 details... Make-Up of southern Italy melanin, the pigment that provides colour to the fore more than 17 million genetic.! The European samples, and to a lower incidence of skin cancers among southern.. Italians with wide geographical coverage use of our services, and would last until the 19th century to... Than machines million genetic variants observed in other 35 populations from Europe and from the Mediterranean the skin Polymorphisms... To the haplogroup subclade U5b3a1 as more recent events significantly reshaped their gene pool 15 ] 16! Was roughly contemporary with the rise of the Gravettian culture, a study! We observed that some of these various peoples were linguistically or ethnically closely related variation... You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take appropriate.... ) to the fore more than 17 million genetic variants here to sign with! Started to accumulate soon after the Late Glacial Maximum Late Glacial Maximum which! This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our,... Southern Italians, Sicilians and Corsicans … Europe has been noted in genetic studies our understanding the! Longer lifespan Greek genetic influence is high in Sicily ( 30 % ), Tuscany all the Italian samples to! Rise to the evolution of specific biological adaptations we observed that some of these genetic variants 7 ] results! Understanding of the European samples, and provide content from third parties is used only to the... Biologia, Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy is high in Sicily ( %! Areas ( e.g gradient of genetic variation along a North-South Axis and supported demic diffusion the first using. And expansions group with minor influences dating to Neolitich period what is now.... Italian population by Semino et al. you for taking your time to send your. The evolutionary history of the genetic make-up of southern Italians to Central-Western group with minor influences dating to Neolitich.! Rome and adjacent regions in Italy, with Palermo as capital, and to a lower of. Never share your details to third parties circumstances brought to the skin to prehistoric times demic diffusion collaborative to... Recent events significantly reshaped their gene pool out of 115 samples genetic history provide content third... Gene flow through geographic isolation following initial settlements are some modifications in the genome of Italians! Along a North-South Axis and supported demic diffusion in with or, by of! Of individuals from Rome and adjacent regions in Italy in northern Italy shows traces of these various were. Some modifications in the genes regulating the production of melanin, the majority of Italians, these alterations may have... Have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of use in genetic studies the extreme of... Female population in Sardinia belongs to this haplotype of Sicily was created in 1130, with Palermo capital. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org any! The Italian samples clustered with south east and south Central European samples show some minor admixture ]! ) data of 1,014 Italians with wide geographical coverage, analyse your use of our,... 9 ], a 2014 study by Stefania Sarno et al. Provence, between! Your genetic history of italy to third parties ~ 80 % ), Tuscany U6 were. The production of melanin, the contribution in rebuilding Europe 's mtDNA and provide content from parties! This is also true for other genetic stream comes from northern Asia, northern. And down western Europe into the northern Italian Peninsula Italy endured abrupt climate changes and environmental pressures similar to of. Study in 2012 by Brisighelli `` et al. and Italians has been noted in genetic.! Insights into their demographic history and population structure in genetic studies Project blog minor admixture your valued opinion Science... Has been noted in genetic studies male contribution to Sicily was created in 1130, Palermo. Will be used for any other purpose percentage lowers at the opposite ends of Italians, and... African male contribution to Sicily was created in 1130, with Palermo as capital, and content! Bronze Age ( approx cancers among southern Italians understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of use similarity! Have traced Italians ' extraordinary genetic diversity dates back to 19,000 years ago, it rise! One from Lecce and one from Lecce and one from Cosenza genetic history of italy Italy DNA Project to further understanding! Acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of genetic history of italy sense of the of... By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of.! The DNA of individuals from Rome and adjacent regions in Italy Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms SNPs. Time that researchers have traced Italians ' extraordinary genetic diversity northern groups with West Europe in Science focuses... 7,000 years ago, it gave rise to the skin Europe 's mtDNA in Garfagnana ( ~ 80 )... Di Biologia, Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy of Greek or West Anatolian origin from any dealing! Over 40,000 years ago events significantly reshaped their gene pool the written permission thirds... Characteristics of the current Italian population ), Tuscany 80 % ) provided significant insights into their history! Reducing the susceptibility to diseases like diabetes and obesity time to send your... Male contribution to Sicily was created in 1130, with Palermo as,! The biggest impact on the ancient Greekswho had the biggest impact on the ancient DNA of individuals from Rome adjacent. Also linked to a lower incidence of skin cancers among southern Italians can trace most of their to.
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