We are Celebrating Bioanthropology – We are Celebrating Ourselves!

Here we are! We are celebrating the release of the first issue of our new journal. Journal of Bioanthropology is a multi and interdisciplinary scientific journal that focuses on scientific research in the field of biological anthropology, bioarchaeology, biomechanics, biomedicine, ergonomics, forensics, genetics, human evolution, molecular anthropology, public health and related subjects

We are Celebrating Bioanthropology – We are Celebrating Ourselves!

Here we are! We are celebrating the release of the first issue of our new journal. Journal of Bioanthropology is a multi and interdisciplinary scientific journal that focuses on scientific research in the field of biological anthropology, bioarchaeology, biomechanics, biomedicine, ergonomics, forensics, genetics, human evolution, molecular anthropology, public health and related subjects

Results of Paleostomatological Analysis of Material From the Cave Near Gornji Vakuf (South-West Bosnia)

Among explored speleological objects near the Krupa village, close to Gornji Vakuf, the most interesting cave from paleocultural aspect, is the cave named “Cave number 5”. In the internal part of that cave, besides ceramic fragments and one metal needle, rich anthropological material have been found, compounds of numerous humans bones and teeth. Anato-morphological analysis of the one part of material showed that this site is a prehistoric crypt with remains of at least 13 people. Radiocarbon 14C bone analysiss results showed that those people lived 2765 ± 75 before presence. The fact that anthropological material includes some remains which belonged to children shows some characteristics of burial culture of that period on area of Uskoplje. This cave crypt is the one of the biggest on this region. Paleostomatological analysis of teeth and jaw fragments gave us clear evidence about therapeutic interventions performed in this period. X-rays analysis showed presence of the metal body inside the bone in one mandibular fragment. It’s supposed that this metal is broken part of instrument used for tooth extraction

Genetic Polymorphisms of 15 STR Loci within Turkish Student Population Living in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Allele frequencies of 15 STRs included in the PowerPlex 16 System (D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, VWA, D8S1179, TPOX and FGA) were calculated from the referent sample of 100 unrelated individuals of both sexes from Turkish student population living in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Buccal swab, as a source of DNA, was collected from the volunteers from whom the informed consent form was obtained. DNA extraction was performed using QIAamp DNA Micro kit by Qiagen. DNA template ranging from 0.5 to 2 ng was used to amplify 15 STR loci by PCR multiplex amplification which was performed by using the PowerPlex 16 kit (Promega Corp., Madison, WI, USA) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The amplifications were carried out in a PE Gene Amp PCR System thermal cycler (Applied Biosystems) and capillary electrophoresis was car- ried out in an ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems) in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommen- dations. The frequency of each locus was calculated from the numbers of each observed genotype. Deviation from Hardy- -Weinberg equilibrium and observed heterozygosity were calculated. Data were analyzed by using Microsoft Excel work- book template – Powerstats V12 and the power of discrimination (PD), power of exclusion (PE), as well as other popula- tion genetic indices for the 15 STR loci were calculated. Obtained results contribute to existing Turkish DNA database, as well as insight of differences and similarities in comparison to population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, 13 autosomal STR loci frequencies (D3S1358, TH01, D21S1 1, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSFIPO, Penta D, VWA, D8S1 179, TPOX, and FGA) were studied in 15 different worldwide populations (Turkish, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin, Macedonian, Albanian, Kosovan, Greek, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Lithua- nian, Iraqi, Belarusian). For the proof of corresponding data, two different Turkish population STR data obtained from previously published articles were compared with our data and this showed that our data correspond to these 2 previ- ously published data. Further, STR allele frequency data for 13 loci for each population were obtained from previous sci- entific articles and the allele frequencies and genetic diversity among the 15 sample populations were compared. In addi- tion, even though the populations are from different nationalities, the STR data are similar among the geographically close populations. The phylogenetic tree established among worldwide populations and genetic distance values show a great affinity among the 15 populations. Our data is useful for anthropological and further comparative genetic studies of populations

Croatian genetic heritage: Y-chromosome story

The aim of this article is to offer a concise interpretation of the scientific data about the topic of Croatian genetic heritage that was obtained over the past 10 years. We made a short overview of previously published articles by our and other groups, based mostly on Y-chromosome results. The data demonstrate that Croatian human population, as almost any other European population, represents remarkable genetic mixture. More than 3/4 of the contemporary Croatian men are most probably the offspring of Old Europeans who came here before and after the Last Glacial Maximum. The rest of the population is the offspring of the people who were arriving in this part of Europe through the southeastern route in the last 10 000 years, mostly during the neolithization process. We believe that the latest discoveries made with the techniques for whole-genome typing using the array technology, will help us understand the structure of Croatian population in more detail, as well as the aspects of its demographic history

A Decade of the Common FTO Rs9939609 Polymorphism: A Systematic Review

Several association studies focusing on FTO gene polymorphisms have been published in the past years; however, the association between FTO-related conditions and FTO gene variants remains unexplained. Population genetics and association studies of different populations provide a valuable tool for further research. Thus, the aim of this systematic review is to summarize current knowledge on the FTO SNP rs9939609, and its association with presumably related conditions. The study included original research articles collected from PubMed and ResearchGate databases that were published in the period between 2007 and November 2017, and that provide information on rs9939609 mutant allele frequency and its probable association with any condition suspected of being related to the mutant allele. Genotype data was extracted and analyzed, and missing data was obtained from secondary sources. Short summaries of relevant studies from primary sources are organized in an overview table. The results of the systematic review suggest that mutant allele A is the most prevalent in European populations and least frequent on the Far East. In addition, it has been concluded that allele A is a good tool for the prediction of an increased risk of higher-than-normal BMI in a person carrying it, as well as that allele A should be further analyzed as a possible risk marker for type 2 diabetes mellitus and polycystic ovary syndrome development

Diversity of nuclear short tandem repeat loci in representative sample of North-eastern Bosnian and Herzegovina population

Diversity of nuclear microsatellite markers were analyzed in a reference sample of the population of northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina. 437 samples taken from unrelated individuals were processed and three samples of paternity proof were shown. Detection effectiveness profile of the research, points to a valid choice of method of extraction, amplification and genotyping short tandem repeat (STR) loci with PowerPlextm16 kit. Genetic analysis of allelic variants of the 15 STR loci PowerPlextm16 kit detected 17 samples determined as rare allelic variants or microvariants. Samples were divided into 15 different allelic variants at 7 different loci, and are: in locus D7S820, D16S539, D3S1358, D18S51, PENTA D, PENTA E and in locus vWA. Genetic analysis of mutations in cases of paternity determined three examples of single-step mutations in the loci FGA, Penta D and D3S1358. Genetic analysis of observed STR loci detected three allelic variant of genotype combination 7/10/11.3 in locus D7S820 Type II. Population genetic analysis of STR loci in a representative sample of the population of northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina included the application of the assessment tests of within-population genetic diversity and interpopulation diversity, as well as genetic differentiation between populations: North-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) and BH general reference, then the Croatian population, Macedonian, Serbian and Slovenian. Based on the result analysis of specific forensic parameters, it can be assumed that the most informative marker is PENTA E for population genetic analysis and forensic testing in the population of northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina. Research results fit regional STR database of this part of Europe

Overview of Human Population-Genetic Studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Last Three Centuries: History and Prospective

Modern Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multi-ethnic and multi-religion country, with a very stormy history. Certain archaeological findings indicate continuous population of its territory since the Paleolithic. In time, vast number of different factors jointly influenced fascinating diversity of local human populations. A great number of small, more or less isolated, indigenous populations, make this area quite attractive for population-genetic surveys of different levels and approaches. Austro-Hungarian military physicians conducted the very first known bio-anthropological analyses of Bosnia-Herzegovina population at the end of the 19th century. Thus, the first step towards resolving the genetic structures of local B&H human populations was made. The studies that followed (conducted throughout most of the 20th century) were primarily based on the observation of various phenotypic traits. This stage was followed by the examination of various cytogenetic and fundamental DNA based molecular markers. The efforts undertaken over the last three centuries revealed »human genetic treasure« in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, even now, after all the studies that were conducted, many interesting features remain to be discovered and described within the existing local human populations

COMPARISON OF TWO DIFFERENT MULTIPLEX SYSTEMS IN CALCULATING KINSHIP AMONG CLOSE RELATIVES

This study compares the results obtained using two multiplex systems, PowerPlex® 16 System and PowerPlex® Fusion System, to evaluate the probability of a specific kinship relationship between the offspring of three pairs of identical twins, such as full kinship (siblings), first-degree relatives (first cousins) and half-siblings. Genomic DNA was isolated and amplified from buccal swab and selected short tandem repeat (STR) markers were detected. Electropherograms were generated and analyzed for all persons, using two multiplex systems. Paternity testing for every nine offspring of six examined couples was performed and in all cases the probability that the alleged father is the true father, was over 99.9999%. Kinship analyses were performed setting up two different hypotheses and calculating the likelihood ratio (LR) and kinship probability. Determining the degree of kinship between persons who were full siblings, likelihood ratio showed the highest values contrary to other two types of kinship. Kinship analyses between first cousins showed a higher probability that the examined persons are half-siblings, rather than they are first cousins. In most cases, the introduction of additional seven loci included in PowerPlex® Fusion System increased the values of average likelihood ratios. It is recommendable to use over 20 STR loci in complex kinship analyses

Forensic Efficiency Parameters for the 15 STR Loci in the Population of the Island of Cres (Croatia)

Forensic parameters based on 15 AmpFlSTR Identifiler short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, VWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA) were evaluated in the sample of 122 unrelated, autochthonous, adult individuals from the Island of Cres (Croatia). PCR amplification was performed with the AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit and the amplified products were separated and detected using the ABI 3130 DNA genetic analyzer. The agreement with Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) was confirmed for all loci (p>0.05). The combined power of discrimination (PD) and the combined power of exclusion (PE) for the 15 tested STR loci were 0.99999999999999997988728679 and 0.999997397, respectively. According to the presented data, D18S51 proved to be the most informative marker followed by markers D2S1338 and D21S11. Interpopulation comparisons in allele frequencies with other East Adriatic Islands revealed significant differences for all analyzed population pairs ranging from 4 loci (Cres vs. Hvar) to 1 locus (Cres vs. Krk). Furthermore, allele frequencies comparisons of Cres and Croatian mainland revealed the lack of statistically significant differences at all studied loci. The results of the current study indicate that the examined fifteen STR loci are useful genetic markers for individual identification and paternity testing in Croatian population from the Island of Cres