Cyclic seasonal variation of genotype-specific fertility could interact with endemic diseases characterized by seasonal variation of severity resulting in changes of gene frequencies in the course of generations. Assuming that a given allele A has a frequency pw in infants conceived in the cold season and a frequency of ps in those conceived in the warm season and assuming that general fertility is the same in the two seasonal periods, the gene frequency in the population is pm = (pw + ps)/2; this frequency remains constant over the course of generations. The introduction of an endemic disease bearing negatively on general fertility and characterized by a seasonal pattern of severity could result in variations of the A allele frequency. If the maximum of endemicity coincides with the maximum value of the allele A frequency, the frequency of allele A will progressively decrease. A simple mathematical algorithm has been applied to two polymorphic enzymes (ACP1 and G6PD) correlated with past malarial morbidity in Sardinia and the Po River delta. The two systems show differences in gene frequency in relation to season of conception. The theoretical changes fit quite well with the data observed in Sardinian and Po delta populations, thus suggesting a mechanism that is an alternative to or concurrent with the classical mechanism that assumes a direct connection between the genetic systems and the biology of the malarial parasite.

Bottini, M., Gloria, F. (2004). Seasonal variation of genotype-specific fertility and adaptation to endemic diseases: a study in past malarial areas of Italy. HUMAN BIOLOGY, 76(6), 837-848.

Seasonal variation of genotype-specific fertility and adaptation to endemic diseases: a study in past malarial areas of Italy

BOTTINI, MASSIMO;GLORIA, FULVIA
2004-12-01

Abstract

Cyclic seasonal variation of genotype-specific fertility could interact with endemic diseases characterized by seasonal variation of severity resulting in changes of gene frequencies in the course of generations. Assuming that a given allele A has a frequency pw in infants conceived in the cold season and a frequency of ps in those conceived in the warm season and assuming that general fertility is the same in the two seasonal periods, the gene frequency in the population is pm = (pw + ps)/2; this frequency remains constant over the course of generations. The introduction of an endemic disease bearing negatively on general fertility and characterized by a seasonal pattern of severity could result in variations of the A allele frequency. If the maximum of endemicity coincides with the maximum value of the allele A frequency, the frequency of allele A will progressively decrease. A simple mathematical algorithm has been applied to two polymorphic enzymes (ACP1 and G6PD) correlated with past malarial morbidity in Sardinia and the Po River delta. The two systems show differences in gene frequency in relation to season of conception. The theoretical changes fit quite well with the data observed in Sardinian and Po delta populations, thus suggesting a mechanism that is an alternative to or concurrent with the classical mechanism that assumes a direct connection between the genetic systems and the biology of the malarial parasite.
dic-2004
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Sì, ma tipo non specificato
Settore BIO/10 - BIOCHIMICA
English
Genetic Variation; Fertility; Gene Frequency; Humans; Algorithms; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency; Malaria; Italy; Phenotype; Fertilization; Alleles; Isoenzymes; Rome; Adaptation, Physiological; Geography; Time Factors; Male; Endemic Diseases; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; Seasons; Female
Bottini, M., Gloria, F. (2004). Seasonal variation of genotype-specific fertility and adaptation to endemic diseases: a study in past malarial areas of Italy. HUMAN BIOLOGY, 76(6), 837-848.
Bottini, M; Gloria, F
Articolo su rivista
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/40645
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 2
social impact