Ancient Migratory Events in the Middle East: New Clues from the Y-Chromosome Variation of Modern Iranians

Knowledge of high resolution Y-chromosome haplogroup diversification within Iran provides important geographic context regarding the spread and compartmentalization of male lineages in the Middle East and southwestern Asia. At present, the Iranian population is characterized by an extraordinary mix of different ethnic groups speaking a variety of Indo-Iranian, Semitic and Turkic languages. Despite these features, only few studies have investigated the multiethnic components of the Iranian gene pool. In this survey 938 Iranian male DNAs belonging to 15 ethnic groups from 14 Iranian provinces were analyzed for 84 Y-chromosome biallelic markers and 10 STRs. The results show an autochthonous but non-homogeneous ancient background mainly composed by J2a sub-clades with different external contributions. The phylogeography of the main haplogroups allowed identifying post-glacial and Neolithic expansions toward western Eurasia but also recent movements towards the Iranian region from western Eurasia (R1b-L23), Central Asia (Q-M25), Asia Minor (J2a-M92) and southern Mesopotamia (J1-Page08). In spite of the presence of important geographic barriers (Zagros and Alborz mountain ranges, and the Dasht-e Kavir and Dash-e Lut deserts) which may have limited gene flow, AMOVA analysis revealed that language, in addition to geography, has played an important role in shaping the nowadays Iranian gene pool. Overall, this study provides a portrait of the Y-chromosomal variation in Iran, useful for depicting a more comprehensive history of the peoples of this area as well as for reconstructing ancient migration routes. In addition, our results evidence the important role of the Iranian plateau as source and recipient of gene flow between culturally and genetically distinct population

The archaeology of the military orders: the material culture of holy war

This paper reviews the current state of research into the archaeology of the military orders. It contrasts the advances made by historians and archaeologists, with the latter continuing to focus on the particularism of individual sites, with an emphasis on architectural analyses. Historians have contributed new insights by adopting a supranational approach. This paper argues that archaeologists can build on this by adopting a more problem-oriented, comparative approach. Drawing on examples from frontier and heartland territories, archaeological approaches are subdivided into material investment, material identity and cultural landscapes, to place sites of the military orders within a long-term, multi-scalar contexts. This contributes to a broader social and economic understanding of the orders, who contributed significantly to urbanisation, rural development and trade, and invested in material expressions of their authority and ideology. The paper concludes that more holistic, inter-regional approaches will move the archaeological study of the military orders forward

Under the Skin of a Lion: Unique Evidence of Upper Paleolithic Exploitation and Use of Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Spain)

ABSTRACT: Pleistocene skinning and exploitation of carnivore furs have been previously inferred from archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, the evidence of skinning and fur processing tends to be weak and the interpretations are not strongly sustained by the archaeological record. In the present paper, we analyze unique evidence of patterned anthropic modification and skeletal representation of fossil remains of cave lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Cantabria, Spain). This site is one of the few that provides Pleistocene examples of lion exploitation by humans. Our archaeozoological study suggests that lion-specialized pelt exploitation and use might have been related to ritual activities during the Middle Magdalenian period (ca. 14800 cal BC). Moreover, the specimens also represent the southernmost European and the latest evidence of cave lion exploitation in Iberia. Therefore, the study seeks to provide alternative explanations for lion extinction in Eurasia and argues for a role of hunting as a factor to take into account

The effect of a hypoproteic diet and ethanol consumption on the yield of chromosomal damage detected in bone marrow cells of mice

The relationship between protein malnutrition and ethanol consumption as modulating factors of the genetic response to xenobiotics was studied. BALB/c mice of both sexes were fed for three weeks after weaning either with a normal diet containing 25% protein or a hypoproteic diet containing 5% protein. Half of the animals received 20% ethanol in drinking water. Cytogenetic analysis was performed in bone marrow cells. Slides were stained for C-banding in order to assure the accurate scoring of dicentric chromosomes. Results obtained showed an increased frequency of dicentric chromosomes in mice fed with the hypoproteic diet (5.45 dicentrics per 100 cells) in contrast to mice fed with the normal diet (0.61 dicentrics per 100 cells). Ethanol consumption increased the frequency of chromosomal damage, but no differences in the effect of ethanol between mice fed with the normal diet and mice fed with the hypoproteic diet (16.33 and 16.80 dicentrics per 100 cells respectively). The enhanced frequency of dicentric chromosomes in animals fed with the hypoproteic diet might have been originated from the increase or the improper repair of chromosome breaks. The similarity in the response to ethanol consumption in animals fed either with the normal or the hypoproteic diet might have been provoked by a decrease of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) level in undernourished mice. The chromosomal damage due to ethanol may be lower in undernourished mice than in mice fed with the normal diet due to the reduced amount of circulating acetaldehyde able to induce chromosomal damage. The results obtained are an evidence of the role played by the diet in the modulation of the genetic response to xenobiotics.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

The Relation between Protein Malnutrition, Ethanol Consumption and Chromosomal Damage Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Bone Marrow Cells of Mice

The effect of protein malnutrition and alcohol consumption on the yield of chromosomal damage induced by cycloPhosphamide (CP) was studied. Chromosomal damage induced in bone marrow cells of BALB/c mice was established by scoring the frequency of dicentric chromosomes in C-banded slides. Results obtained showed that CP induced a significant increase of chromosomal damage in comparison with untreated mice. In addition, the yield of dicentric chromosomes was higher in mice fed with the hypoproteic diet. The animals which received ethanol in drinking water before treatment with CP exhibited the highest frequency of dicentric chromosomes, with no relation with the diet. Statistical analysis of these results showed the additive effect of diet and CP and are explained taking into account the metabolic pathways of CP as well as the decrease of enzymatic levels and the physiological condition in under-nourished mice.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Prolonged fixation and post-mortem delay impede the study of adult neurogenesis in mice

Abstract Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) gives rise to new neurons throughout life. This phenomenon takes place in more than 120 mammalian species, including humans, yet its occurrence in the latter was questioned after one study proposed the putative absence of neurogenesis markers in the adult human hippocampus. In this regard, we showed that prolonged fixation impedes the visualization of Doublecortin+ immature neurons in this structure, whereas other authors have suggested that a dilated post-mortem delay (PMD) underlies these discrepancies. Nevertheless, the individual and/or additive contribution of fixation and the PMD to the detection (or lack thereof) of other AHN markers has not been studied to date. To address this pivotal question, we used a tightly controlled experimental design in mice, which allowed the dissection of the relative contribution of the aforementioned factors to the visualization of markers of individual AHN stages. Fixation time emerged as the most prominent factor globally impeding the study of this process in mice. Moreover, the visualization of other particularly sensitive epitopes was further prevented by prolonged PMD. These results are crucial to disambiguate current controversies related to the occurrence of AHN not only in humans but also in other mammalian species

Superimposing Polymorphism: The Case of a Point Mutation within a Polymorphic Alu Insertion

The COL3A1 Alu insertion is a member of the AluY subfamily. It has been found to be absent in non-human primates and polymorphic in worldwide human populations. The integration of the element into the human genome seems to have preceded the initial migration(s) of anatomically modern humans out of the African continent. Although the insertion has been detected in populations from all the continents, its highest frequency values are located within sub-Saharan Africa. The sequence alignment of the COL3A1 insertion from several African individuals revealed a bi-allelic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the downstream terminus of the element’s poly-A tract. Once discovered, a selective PCR procedure was designed to determine the frequency of both alleles in 19 worldwide populations. The A-allele in this binary SNP experiences a clinal increase in the eastward direction from Africa to Southeast Asia and Mongolia, reaching fixation in the two latter regions. The T variant, on the other hand, exhibits a westward clinal increase outside of Africa, with its lowest frequency in Asia and achieving fixation in northern Europe. The presence of this internal SNP extends the usefulness provided by the polymorphic Alu insertion (PAI). It is possible that superimposing polymorphisms like this one found in the COL3A1 locus may accentuate signals from genetic drift events allowing for visualization of recent dispersal patterns

Response to Comment on “Impact of neurodegenerative diseases on human adult hippocampal neurogenesis”

Alvarez-Buylla and colleagues provide an alternative interpretation of some of the data included in our manuscript and question whether well-validated markers of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) are related to this phenomenon in our study. In Terreros-Roncal et al., reconstruction of the main stages of human AHN revealed its enhanced vulnerability to neurodegeneration. Here, we clarify ambiguities raised by these authors.Fil: Terreros Roncal, J.. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Moreno Jiménez, E. P.. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Flor García, M.. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Rodríguez Moreno, C. B.. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Trinchero, Mariela Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Márquez Valadez, B.. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Cafini, F.. Universidad Europea de Madrid;Fil: Rábano, A.. CIEN Foundation; EspañaFil: Llorens Martín, M.. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Españ

CATALYTIC EPOXIDATION OF CYCLOHEXENE WITH TERT-BUTYLHYDROPEROXIDE USING AN IMMOBILIZED MOLYBDENUM CATALYST

This work describes the synthesis of molybdenum complexes immobilized on a silica support and their performance in the epoxidation reaction of cyclohexene using tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidizing agent. The catalyst synthesis included solubilization of variable amounts of bis-oxomolybdenum (VI) acetylacetonate precursor in different solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethanol, THF/water and ethanol/water mixtures and contact with the silica support. Characterization techniques demonstrated that the nature of the incorporated molybdenum species depends markedly on the solvent employed. If the solvent employed is an ethanol:water mixture, physical adsorption of the Mo-species onto the support surface occurs; however, when THF is used as the solvent (THF catalyst series), molybdenum is grafted on the silica surface via chemical bonding with the surface hydroxyl groups of silica. Specifically, these latter catalysts show similar performance to that of the homogeneous catalyst, although long-term experiments showed deactivation by leaching of the active phase.Peer reviewe