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ABSTRACT: The peopling of Comoro Archipelago is defined by successive waves of migration from three main areas: the East African Coast (Bantu-speaking populations), the Persia and Arabian Peninsula, and Southeast Asia (especially Indonesia). It follows an apparent classic trihybrid admixture model. To better understand the Comorian population admixture dynamics, we analyzed the contributions of these three historical parental components to its genetic pool. To enhance accuracy and reliability, we used both classical and molecular markers. Samples consist of published data: blood group frequencies, 14 KIR genes, 19 mitochondrial DNA SNPs (to highlight female migrations), 14 Y chromosome SNPs (male migrations). We revealed distinct admixture patterns for autosomal and uniparental markers. KIR gene frequencies had never been used to estimate admixture rates, this being a first assessment of their informative power in admixture studies. To avoid major methodological and statistical bias, we determined admixture coefficients through nine well-tried estimators and their associated software programs (ADMIX95, ADMIX, admix 2.0, LEA, LEADMIX, and Mistura). Results from mtDNA and Y chromosome markers point to an important sex-bias in the admixture event. The original Bantu gene pool received a predominant male-mediated contribution from the Arabian Peninsula and Persia, and a female-mediated contribution from Southeast Asia. Admixture rates estimated from autosomal KIR gene markers point also to an unexpected elevated Austronesian contribution.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology 02/2011; 144(4):653-60. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: As a result of blood group polymorphism, distinctive blood types have evolved in populations around the world. In countries with large migrant populations, finding rare blood types for transfusion can be challenging. This is especially true for sub-Saharan African immigrants living in countries with predominantly European populations. This problem is further compounded by hereditary disorders such as sickle cell disease and by traditional cultural values that discourage routine donation.
The purpose of this report is to describe the drive to recruit more safe rare blood type donors in a Comorian immigrant community living in Marseilles, France. With a culturally adapted message developed on an anthropologic approach and working in close collaboration with scientific and medical members of the Comorian community, it is proposed that this population be sensitized with the gift of blood.
Targeted collection of specific sub-Saharan African blood types was achieved. Taking into account the high rate of infectious markers among products collected in this targeted collection, however, it was decided to promote blood donation in this minority by addressing people directly toward our principal blood center site. Since setup of this adapted communication, regular donors present themselves spontaneously without community pressure. Infectious markers rate is then equal to general blood donor population's rate.
The results of this drive demonstrate the utility of an anthropologic approach and cultural mediation in identifying donors with specific blood types in migrant communities and recruiting second-generation donors. The techniques described in this study could also be applied to collection of other tissues including organs and peripheral blood progenitor cells in minorities.
Transfusion 04/2007; 47(3):402-9. · 3.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: As part of a survey of the biological history of Alpine populations, the lineages of all the families of the Vallouise valley (a French 'department' of the Hautes Alpes) have been reconstructed over several centuries. The genealogies have been included in a computerized population record, known as 'Vallouise in the Briançon area (14th-20th centuries)', using the French-Canadian programme Analypop. Most of the professions of the family heads were included in the files. In this study, various profession groups were identified and their descents determined over successive generations. In this mountain area, where over 92% of marriages took place among relatives during the 19th century, the profession groups modulated their descents according to chosen strategies, sometimes with considerable differences among groups but with a remarkable consistency of behaviour. Moreover, there was weak interpenetration in the descents of each profession at both the 2nd and 3rd generations.
Journal of Biosocial Science 12/2005; 37(6):673-87. · 0.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Sociocultural factors play a crucial role in the variation of consanguinity in a population. The choice of specific matrimonial strategies can favor the closure or opening of the group to the outside, whereas differential fertility affects the gene flow from one generation to another. In the present study we analyzed the role of socioprofessional groups in the maintenance of endogamy and consanguinity in a French Alpine valley: Vallouise in the Briançon area. In mountain environments, where the reproductive space is limited and quickly saturated, the autochthonous families adopt diversified matrimonial strategies. These marriage practices tend to prevent fragmentation of agricultural property. We analyzed the matrimonial behavior in the two main social groups of this population (décideurs and farmers) from 1550 to 1849. To better understand the behavior of the two social groups, we considered the two components of consanguinity, close and distant. Our study showed that the two groups had similar behavior regarding consanguinity. The way to prevent fragmentation of the patrimony was to choose a consanguineous spouse. This type of strategy inevitably leads to a high percentage of endogamy, which in this region of the Alps exceeded 90% through many centuries.
Human Biology 05/2005; 77(2):201-12. · 1.31 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The Comorian population is historically considered a blend of influences from African Bantus, Arabs, and possibly Austronesians. In this study we present the first genetic data on the current Comorian population. Serologic analysis of the six major blood group systems (ABO, RH, KEL, FY, JK, and MNS) was performed on 164 individuals from Grande Comore Island (Njazidja). In addition, Duffy genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction using allele-specific primers. Our findings establish a high frequency of the Fy(a- b-) phenotype (86%), presenting the same genetic background as in sub-Saharan Africa. Analysis of genetic frequencies, distances, and admixture with other populations indicates that African Bantus made the main contribution to the gene pool (73.2%+/-15.5%). The Arab contribution from the Arabian peninsula was smaller (24.2%+/-7%) and the Indonesian contribution was minor (2.6%+/-9%). The major Bantu contribution was commensurate with the Bantu cultural influence. The contribution from the Arabian peninsula seemed in relation to its permeating religious and linguistic influence. As with the language, the Indonesian contribution to the Comorian gene pool was small. These results are in agreement with historical, sociological, and linguistic data.
Human Biology 09/2004; 76(4):527-41. · 1.31 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The present study considers the evolution of consanguinity in the Vallouise, a high glacial valley in the French Alps. The genealogical method was used to estimate consanguinity in this Alpine population from the 17th to the 19th centuries. This method was then compared with three other methods used to measure consanguinity. The results indicate that while consanguinity increased through time (marriage dispensations and genealogies), the structural consanguinity (isonymy) was very stable throughout the entire period.
Human Biology 05/2002; 74(2):285-300. · 1.31 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The alpine populations of Dauphiné have evolved in a relative containment since the antique period until the Middle Ages. During a long interval from the 13th till the 20th century, the historians propose the fact that the surnames carried by the mountain dwellers are found specifically in each alpine valley. These observations give rise to think that, in the Alps, the settlement of origin evolved according to a mode of speciations. In this study 80000 marriages are observed, in a hundred communities. During more than 400 years, several indices of biodemography are estimated. The matrimonial exchanges, which are termed here as ¿migrations¿, are also measured. For the choice of the spouse, the alpine ones privilege the proximity: 3/5 of the unions are realized between persons from the same parish and 90% between people of the same moutain mass. On the other hand, the inter-moutain masses exchanges are negligible, less than 2%. In spite of a strong repeated geographical endogamy, the level of relationship is not important. As for the ecosystem, each parameter interacts specifically. The relationship depend of altitude; the geographical endogamy is more correlated with surface and the patronymic diversity with geographical isolation. The alpine populations of Dauphiné have evolved in a relative containment since the antique period until the Middle Ages. During a long interval from the 13th till the 20th century, the historians propose the fact that the surnames carried by the mountain dwellers are found specifically in each alpine valley. These observations give rise to think that, in the Alps, the settlement of origin evolved according to a mode of speciations. In this study 80000 marriages are observed, in a hundred communities. During more than 400 years, several indices of biodemography are estimated. The matrimonial exchanges, which are termed here as �migrations�, are also measured. For the choice of the spouse, the alpine ones privilege the proximity: 3/5 of the unions are realized between persons from the same parish and 90% between people of the same moutain mass. On the other hand, the inter-moutain masses exchanges are negligible, less than 2%. In spite of a strong repeated geographical endogamy, the level of relationship is not important. As for the ecosystem, each parameter interacts specifically. The relationship depend of altitude; the geographical endogamy is more correlated with surface and the patronymic diversity with geographical isolation.
Antropo, ISSN 1578-2603, Vol. 10, 2005, pags. 1-18.
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ABSTRACT: The Computerized Register of Population, an Interdisciplinary Tool Applied to Social Science. An example from Vallouise-en-Briançonnais (14th-20th c.).This article explores how it is that numerical population registers are constructed. Major source in social science research, they are multifaceted when the data inherent to the research to be undertaken are included. To be sure, the basic method is still the unearthing of lineage, the foundation of demographic history. However, with the appearance of computers and the production of ad hoc programs, the process was modernized, becoming a much more efficient research instrument. Larger and more complex population bases may be constructed, and the core of family systems more easily reached. Furthermore, all demographic and genetic structures may now be grasped, and, de facto, it is simple to achieve all orders of analysis: micro, meso and macroscopic. To make these points concrete, the general lines of the study on Vallouise-en-Briançonnais are presented here, including also the sources which allowed its construction.
