A longer reproductive period influences individual fitness, and natural selection is expected to favour underlying genetic factors. Through spatial analysis techniques we examined local heterogeneities in the aptitude of Sardinian mothers for late reproduction, and explored its temporal persistence and association with both post-reproductive longevity and propensity to consanguineous marriages. We analysed historical Census data (1961) on women fertility and recent birth records (1980-1996) from Vital Statistics, and assumed as indicators for reproductive longevity, post-reproductive longevity, inbreeding, respectively: the incidence of old mothers at last childbirth, the female mortality (1980-2001) at 80-and-over years, and the proportion of consanguineous marriages (1930-1969). We identified a Central Eastern area where reproductive and post-reproductive longevity combines with a higher tendency to relatedness. Intriguingly, such area matches pretty well a geographically and historically defined Central Eastern zone, known for being refuge land of Sardinians from past invasions, and overlaps Ogliastra, an area that has been widely studied for its genetic homogeneity.
A longer reproductive period influences individual fitness, and natural selection is expected to favour underlying genetic factors. Through spatial analysis techniques we examined local heterogeneities in the aptitude of Sardinian mothers for late reproduction, and explored its temporal persistence and association with both post-reproductive longevity and propensity to consanguineous marriages. We analysed historical Census data (1961) on women fertility and recent birth records (1980-1996) from Vital Statistics, and assumed as indicators for reproductive longevity, post-reproductive longevity, inbreeding, respectively: the incidence of old mothers at last childbirth, the female mortality (1980-2001) at 80-and-over years, and the proportion of consanguineous marriages (1930-1969). We identified a Central Eastern area where reproductive and post-reproductive longevity combines with a higher tendency to relatedness. Intriguingly, such area matches pretty well a geographically and historically defined Central Eastern zone, known for being refuge land of Sardinians from past invasions, and overlaps Ogliastra, an area that has been widely studied for its genetic homogeneity.
Exploring the spatial structure of women reproductive longevity in Sardinia
O Fiorani;A Lisa;S Tentoni
2010
Abstract
A longer reproductive period influences individual fitness, and natural selection is expected to favour underlying genetic factors. Through spatial analysis techniques we examined local heterogeneities in the aptitude of Sardinian mothers for late reproduction, and explored its temporal persistence and association with both post-reproductive longevity and propensity to consanguineous marriages. We analysed historical Census data (1961) on women fertility and recent birth records (1980-1996) from Vital Statistics, and assumed as indicators for reproductive longevity, post-reproductive longevity, inbreeding, respectively: the incidence of old mothers at last childbirth, the female mortality (1980-2001) at 80-and-over years, and the proportion of consanguineous marriages (1930-1969). We identified a Central Eastern area where reproductive and post-reproductive longevity combines with a higher tendency to relatedness. Intriguingly, such area matches pretty well a geographically and historically defined Central Eastern zone, known for being refuge land of Sardinians from past invasions, and overlaps Ogliastra, an area that has been widely studied for its genetic homogeneity.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
