Comparison between Inbreeding Analyses Methodologies

Surnames are widely used in inbreeding analysis, but the validity of results has often been questioned due to the failure to comply with the prerequisites of the method. Here we analyze inbreeding in Hallstatt (Austria) between the 17th and the 19th centuries both using genealogies and surnames. The high and significant correlation of the results obtained by both methods demonstrates the validity of the use of surnames in this kind of studies. On the other hand, the inbreeding values obtained (0.24 x 10-3 in the genealogies analysis and 2.66 x 10-3 in the surnames analysis) are lower than those observed in Europe for this period and for this kind of population, demonstrating the falseness of the apparent isolation of Hallstatt’s population. The temporal trend of inbreeding in both analyses does not follow the European general pattern, but shows a maximum in 1850 with a later decrease along the second half of the 19th century. This is probably due to the high migration rate that is implied by the construction of transport infrastructures around the 1870’s

Patrones de covariación e integración morfológica: una perspectiva cráneo-funcional / Covariation patterns and morphological integration: A craneofuncional perspective

El cráneo humano es una estructura ósea compleja, formada por un conjunto de huesos que se organizan en estructuras jerárquicas y que responden a diversos patrones ontogénicos y funcionales. El concepto de integración morfológica está en la base de la comprensión de la morfogénesis y evolución del cráneo humano. El objetivo del presente estudio consiste en identificar patrones de covariación fenotípica entre estructuras craneales definidas a priori según un criterio funcional. Se analizó una muestra de 340 individuos adultos, procedentes de Hallstatt (Austria), mediante técnicas de Morfometría Geométrica. Para cada espécimen se digitalizaron 45 puntos craneométricos en forma de coordenadas 3D. Diferentes configuraciones de puntos reflejan la forma de cada componente funcional. Los patrones de covariación fueron estimados mediante análisis de Partial Least Squares. Los resultados indican que la base es una pieza clave en la integración morfológica del cráneo, puesto que muestra una fuerte covariación con todo el resto de estructuras. Cuando se consideran componentes funcionales discretos, se observa que los faciales tienden a covariar entre sí. Lo mismo sucede en los neurocraneales. En cambio, si se consideran conjuntamente, muestran una relativa independencia

Pervasive genetic integration directs the evolution of human skull shape

It has long been unclear whether the different derived cranial traits of modern humans evolved independently in response to separate selection pressures or whether they resulted from the inherent morphological integration throughout the skull. In a novel approach to this issue, we combine evolutionary quantitative genetics and geometric morphometrics to analyze genetic and phenotypic integration in human skull shape. We measured human skulls in the ossuary of Hallstatt (Austria), which offer a unique opportunity because they are associated with genealogical data. Our results indicate pronounced covariation of traits throughout the skull. Separate simulations of selection for localized shape changes corresponding to some of the principal derived characters of modern human skulls produced outcomes that were similar to each other and involved a joint response in all of these traits. The data for both genetic and phenotypic shape variation were not consistent with the hypothesis that the face, cranial base, and cranial vault are completely independent modules but relatively strongly integrated structures. These results indicate pervasive integration in the human skull and suggest a reinterpretation of the selective scenario for human evolution where the origin of any one of the derived characters may have facilitated the evolution of the others.Fil: Martínez Abadías, Neus. Stockholms Universitet; Suecia. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Esparza, Mireia. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Sjovold, Torstein. Stockholms Universitet; SueciaFil: González José, Rolando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Santos, Mauro. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Hernández, Miquel. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Klingenberg, Christian Peter. University of Manchester; Reino Unid

Religion influence on life history traits heritability

Reproductive fitness refers to the gene transfer from one generation to the subsequent one. Fitness traits or life history traits (LHT) include measurements of fertility and mortality and are influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Economic, social and cultural factors influenced family size . Although the influence of religion on pre-industrial populations has not been widely studied, some works in European post-industrial populations showed that religion (Catholicism and Protestantism) may affect fitness . The main goal of this contribution is to determine the degree of differences in the heritability values of LHT between Protestants and Catholics to check the influence of religion on fitness.Fil: Gavrus Ion, A. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Sjovold, Torstein. Stockholms Universitet; SueciaFil: Hernández, Miguel. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Gonzalez-Jose, Rolando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Abadías, Neus. Universidad de Barcelona; España. Universitat Pompeu Fabra; EspañaFil: Esteban Torné, María Esther. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Esparza, Mireia. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaXX Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Antropología FísicaBarcelonaEspañaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSociedad Española de Antropología Físic