BBS10 encodes a vertebrate-specific chaperonin-like protein and is a major BBS locus

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a genetically heterogeneous ciliopathy. Although nine BBS genes have been cloned, they explain only 40-50% of the total mutational load. Here we report a major new BBS locus, BBS10, that encodes a previously unknown, rapidly evolving vertebrate-specific chaperonin-like protein. We found BBS10 to be mutated in about 20% of an unselected cohort of families of various ethnic origins, including some families with mutations in other BBS genes, consistent with oligogenic inheritance. In zebrafish, mild suppression of bbs10 exacerbated the phenotypes of other bbs morphants

Rodent’s assemblage from the Middle to the Late Pleistocene site of Azokh-1 cave (southern Caucasus)

International audienceAzokh 1 Cave is located in Southern Caucasus, being an important site for the understanding of human evolution in its archaeological, paleontological, environmental and ecological context. The site presents a continuous archaeological record ranging from Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene with some Holocene infill at the top of the sequence. Rodents are one of the most significant tool for the palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstruction because of their rapid evolution and their limited geographic range. Rodent´s remains used in this study come from Unit V, Unit III-IV and Unit II. A total of 434 molars were identified following the keys of systematic paleontology, representing a minimum number of 237 individuals, composed of at least 13 taxa: seven arvicoline, two cricetine, two gerbilline, one dipodid and one murine species.Unit III-IV do not yield enough material to draw palaeoecological inferences (MNI < 30). However, these inferences have been made for Units V (with a D/LAsp dating of 300ka), and II (with a ESR dating of ca. 184ka).Firstly, a preliminary taphonomic study (based on 90 molars and 100 incisors from both units) indicate that the rodent´s assemblage was probably accumulated by a category 1 predator. Then, the inferred weather shows a relatively warm-temperate climate with continental conditions in both units. Finally, a landscape mainly composed by shrubland and steppe has been detected, indicated by the presence of the gerbils (Meriones spp.) and the Brandt´s hamster (Mesocricetus brandti), with patches of deciduous forests and desert, similar to the one found nowadays in the area

Systematic and geometric morphometrics analysis applied to the current and fossil genus Ellobius (Fischer, 1814) from the Middle East

International audienceThis study is based on the Geometric Morphometrics (GMM) analysis on Ellobius genus. 111 lower first molars (m1) were analysed belonging to the genus Ellobius (mole voles), focusing on Ellobius fuscocapillus, Ellobius lutescens and Ellobius talpinus. The archaeological material from the Iranian site of Kadar Cave was compared with the reference collection coming from the Natural History Museum of London, the Field Museum of Chicago, and the American Museum of Natural History. Our objective is to examine morphological and size differences in the genus Ellobius between the different species and to contribute to better identification of the specimens in archaeological sites. We analyse molar size and conformation using two dimensional Geometric Morphometric with landmarks and semi-landmarks; using TPSdig2 and R software. Fourteen landmarks were placed on the salient and re-entrant lingual and buccal angles, and on the posterior lobe and the anterior cap. Moreover, in order to characterize the size and conformation of the anterior cap, 60 equidistant semi-landmarks were automatically positioned along the curve corresponding to the external outline of the tooth enamel from the buccal salient angle 3 to the lingual salient angle 4. The m1 is quite similar among the different Ellobius species, although there are some differences. With the GMM we observed that, from the morphological point of view of the conformation of the anterior cap and the disposition of the triangles, Ellobius fuscocapillus and Ellobius lutescens are closely related while Ellobius talpinus differs and is well separated from the other two species. If we include tooth size and shape, an allometric effect is also evident and it is possible to distinguished between Ellobius fuscocapillus and Ellobius lutescens, as the anterior cap of Ellobius fuscocapillus is elongated and the total tooth length is greater than that found in Ellobius lutescens. Correct identification of Ellobius species would increase precision when reconstructing archaeological paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions, as each species has different ecological and climatic requirements. Furthermore, precise species attribution contributes to our understanding of the biostratigraphic sequence of the species, as the studied species (Ellobius fuscocapillus, Ellobius lutescens and Ellobius talpinus) indicates an Upper Pleistocene chronology and could be used as a chronological indicator

Distinguishing between three modern Ellobius species (Rodentia, Mammalia) and identification of fossil Ellobius from Kaldar Cave (Iran) using geometric morphometric analyses of the first lower molar

International audienceEllobius remains are common and often abundant in southeastern Europe, western and central Asia archaeological sites. A correct identification of species is crucial for our understanding of the evolution of species and communities through time, including biostratigraphic sequences to be established. This study applies geometric morphometric methods (GMM) to Ellobius first lower molars, with the objectives: 1) to discriminate modern species and explore morphological and size differences in reference samples; and 2) to identify fossil specimens recovered in archaeological sites, based on the aforementioned analysis. The reference dataset used in this paper includes specimens belonging to the three species that today occur in the southeastern Europe, western and central Asia: Ellobius fuscocapillus, E. lutescens and E. talpinus. The archaeological material comes from Late Pleistocene Iranian site of Kaldar Cave (Khorramabad valley, Lorestan Province, western Iran). Our study shows that the shape of the anterior cap and the arrangement of the following triangles allow discriminating the three studied extant Ellobius species. The shapes of E. fuscocapillus and E. lutescens m1 appear rather similar, whereas Ellobius talpinus is well separated from these two species. The total length and the anterior cap of m1 in E. fuscocapillus is greater than in Ellobius lutescens. The GMM analyses performed on the modern reference dataset allowed us to identify fossil specimens from Kaldar Cave as E. lutescens and some as E. fuscocapillus, and excluding E. talpinus

Palaeoecological reconstructions of the Middle to Late Pleistocene occupations in the Southern Caucasus using rodent assemblages

International audienceLocated at the crossroads between Africa, Europe and Asia, the Southern Caucasus is a prime location to study occupations by H. heidelbergensis , H. neanderthalensis and anatomically modern humans. Azokh Cave is an important site for the understanding of human evolution in its archaeological, palaeontological, environmental and ecological context. The main objective of this work is to use rodents to infer the climatic and environmental conditions that prevailed during the formation of the site. The small-mammal remains come from the archaeological excavation campaigns carried out in Azokh 1 in 2003, 2005, 2014, 2015 and 2018; they are from Unit V, Units III–IV and Unit II. The small-mammal assemblage is composed of at least 13 taxa: seven arvicoline, two cricetine, two gerbilline, one dipodid and one murine species. Units III–IV do not yield enough material to draw palaeoclimatic inferences. The palaeoclimatic conditions for Units V and II, ascertained by means of the bioclimatic model, suggest temperatures and precipitation similar to nowadays; the climate seems to be relatively warm-temperate in both units. The palaeoenvironmental reconstruction by means of habitat weighting points to an environment mainly composed of desert and steppe habitats, as well as portions of grassland and forest. This interpretation differs from that inferred from the large-mammal and archaeobotanical data, which indicate a woodland environment. These differences could be explained by the origin of the accumulation. There was no evidence of a major palaeoenvironmental or palaeoclimatic change between the Middle and Late Pleistocene layers, indicating favourable conditions throughout the study period

Dating the earliest human occupation of Western Europe: new evidences from the fluvial terraces system of the Somme basin (Northern France): Abbeville ”Carrière Carpentier” and Amiens “Rue du Manège”

International audienc

Dating the earliest human occupation of Western Europe: new evidences from the fluvial terraces system of the Somme basin (Northern France): Abbeville ”Carrière Carpentier” and Amiens “Rue du Manège”

International audienc

Dating the earliest human occupation of Western Europe: New evidence from the fluvial terrace system of the Somme basin (Northern France)

International audienceDating the earliest human occupation of Western Europe and reconstructing its relations with climatic and environmental constrains is becoming a central question, especially with the discovery of Palaeolithic artefacts allocated to the Early Pleistocene in south-east Britain and in Central France. In this context, the Quaternary sequences of the Somme basin, where is located the type-site of the Acheulean is a key area. Research undertaken for more than 20 years on both fluvial and loess sequences of the Somme basin provide a unique dataset for the study of the relations between human occupations and environmental variations. Studies have been based on an interdisciplinary approach combining sedimentology, palaeontology and geochronology (U-series, ESR and ESR/U-series). Meanwhile, the palaeoenvironmental interpretation of Pleistocene sequences containing Palaeolithic levels has been refined with biological proxies and sedimentological data obtained on both loess and fluvial sequences. Our data have highlighted the impact of the 100 ky cycles on terraces formation since ±1 Ma, and the fluvial terraces system of the Somme basin has become a reference model for the study of the response of fluvialsystems to Milankovich cycles in areas characterised by slow continuous uplift. Compilation of the whole results from modern archaeological excavations within this chronoclimatic reference system show that human occupation of this area has been discontinuous and highly influenced by climatic and environmental factors. In the Somme terraces system in situ Acheulean settlements where dated to early MIS 12at ±450 ka in the 1990s, but new field discoveries allow to increase significantly the age of the oldest human occupation (Early Middle Pleistocene). The first one (Amiens “Rue du Manège” 2007) is dated at ±550 ka using ESR and terrace stratigraphy. The newest findings have been done in 2011-2013 in Abbeville (Carrière Carpentier), where mammal assemblages show that calcareous fluvial deposits havebeen deposited in an interglacial environment. On the basis of terrace stratigraphy, ESR-quartz dating, and biostratigraphic data, these fluvial deposits are allocated to MIS 15. Handaxes discovered at the base of the slope deposits, directly overlying the fluvial sequence, can be, as a first hypothesis, allocated to MIS 14. They are thus due to Homo heidelbergensis according to the age of the eponymous Mauer site inGermany. Consequently, in the state of knowledge, the “Rue du Manège” and Carrière Carpentier findings represent the oldest in situ evidence of the hominid occupation in the terrace record of Northern France

Dating the earliest human occupation of Western Europe: New evidence from the fluvial terrace system of the Somme basin (Northern France)

International audienceDating the earliest human occupation of Western Europe and reconstructing its relations with climatic and environmental constrains is becoming a central question, especially with the discovery of Palaeolithic artefacts allocated to the Early Pleistocene in south-east Britain and in Central France. In this context, the Quaternary sequences of the Somme basin, where is located the type-site of the Acheulean is a key area. Research undertaken for more than 20 years on both fluvial and loess sequences of the Somme basin provide a unique dataset for the study of the relations between human occupations and environmental variations. Studies have been based on an interdisciplinary approach combining sedimentology, palaeontology and geochronology (U-series, ESR and ESR/U-series). Meanwhile, the palaeoenvironmental interpretation of Pleistocene sequences containing Palaeolithic levels has been refined with biological proxies and sedimentological data obtained on both loess and fluvial sequences. Our data have highlighted the impact of the 100 ky cycles on terraces formation since ±1 Ma, and the fluvial terraces system of the Somme basin has become a reference model for the study of the response of fluvialsystems to Milankovich cycles in areas characterised by slow continuous uplift. Compilation of the whole results from modern archaeological excavations within this chronoclimatic reference system show that human occupation of this area has been discontinuous and highly influenced by climatic and environmental factors. In the Somme terraces system in situ Acheulean settlements where dated to early MIS 12at ±450 ka in the 1990s, but new field discoveries allow to increase significantly the age of the oldest human occupation (Early Middle Pleistocene). The first one (Amiens “Rue du Manège” 2007) is dated at ±550 ka using ESR and terrace stratigraphy. The newest findings have been done in 2011-2013 in Abbeville (Carrière Carpentier), where mammal assemblages show that calcareous fluvial deposits havebeen deposited in an interglacial environment. On the basis of terrace stratigraphy, ESR-quartz dating, and biostratigraphic data, these fluvial deposits are allocated to MIS 15. Handaxes discovered at the base of the slope deposits, directly overlying the fluvial sequence, can be, as a first hypothesis, allocated to MIS 14. They are thus due to Homo heidelbergensis according to the age of the eponymous Mauer site inGermany. Consequently, in the state of knowledge, the “Rue du Manège” and Carrière Carpentier findings represent the oldest in situ evidence of the hominid occupation in the terrace record of Northern France