The genetic signature of modern Europeans is the cumulated result of millennia of discrete small-... more The genetic signature of modern Europeans is the cumulated result of millennia of discrete small-scale exchanges between multiple distinct population groups that performed a repeated cycle of movement, settlement, and interactions with each other. In this study we aimed to highlight one such minute genetic cycle in a sea of genetic interactions by reconstructing part of the genetic story of the migration, settlement, interaction, and legacy of what is today the Transylvanian Saxon. The analysis of the mitochondrial DNA control region of 13 medieval individuals from Feldioara necropolis (Transylvania region, Romania) reveals a genetically heterogeneous group where all identified haplotypes are different. Most of the perceived maternal lineages are of Western Eurasian origin, except for the Central Asiatic haplogroup C seen in only one sample. Comparisons with historical and modern populations describe the contribution of the investigated Saxon settlers to the genetic history of this part of Europe.
Given the paucity of archaeogenetic data available for medieval European populations in compariso... more Given the paucity of archaeogenetic data available for medieval European populations in comparison to other historical periods, the genetic landscape of this age appears as a puzzle of dispersed, small, known pieces. In particular, Southeastern Europe has been scarcely investigated to date. In this paper, we report the study of mitochondrial DNA in 10 th century AD human samples from Capidava necropolis, located in Dobruja (Southeastern Romania, Southeastern Europe). This geographical region is particularly interesting because of the extensive population flux following diverse migration routes, and the complex interactions between distinct population groups during the medieval period. We successfully amplified and typed the mitochondrial control region of 10 individuals. For five of them, we also reconstructed the complete mitochondrial genomes using hybridization-based DNA capture combined with Next Generation Sequencing. We have portrayed the genetic structure of the Capidava medieval population, represented by 10 individuals displaying 8 haplotypes (U5a1c2a, V1a, R0a2'3, H1, U3a, N9a9, H5e1a1, and H13a1a3). Remarkable for this site is the presence of both Central Asiatic (N9a) and common European mtDNA haplotypes, establishing Capidava as a point of convergence between East and West. The distribution of mtDNA lineages in the necropolis highlighted the existence of two groups of two individuals with close maternal relationships as they share the same haplotypes. We also sketch, using comparative statistical and population genetic analyses, the genetic relationships between the investigated dataset and other medieval and modern Eurasian populations.
Genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) were related to bone mineral density, ... more Genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) were related to bone mineral density, bone turnover, and diseases with bone loss, as in periodontitis. RUNX2 regulates transcription of numerous genes and thereby control osteoblast development from mesenchymal stem cells and maturation into osteocytes. During osteoblast development and maturation, RUNX2 cooperates also with other transcription factors and cofactors. Mutations in this gene have been associated with cleidocranial dysplasia, a bone development disorder. Mutations in the PAX9 gene were frequently associated with oligodontia or hypodontia, as well as with Class II/Division 2 malocclusions (with or without hypodontia). The aim of the present paper was to identify genes which we presume to be involved in the development of the craniofacial complex. We selected three markers: VDR (vitamin D receptor - rs731236), PAX9 (rs8004560) and RUNX2 (rs731236) in order to reveal their association with Class I, II and III dent...
δ13C of nematode communities in 27 sites was analyzed, spanning a large depth range (from 130 to ... more δ13C of nematode communities in 27 sites was analyzed, spanning a large depth range (from 130 to 2,021 m) in five Antarctic regions, and compared to isotopic signatures of sediment organic matter. Sediment organic matter δ13C ranged from −24.4 to −21.9‰ without significant differences between regions, substrate types or depths. Nematode δ13C showed a larger range, from −34.6 to −19.3‰, and
Since genomic DNA typing projects were started in Romania, five studies representing six populati... more Since genomic DNA typing projects were started in Romania, five studies representing six populations have been carried out in Transylvania. All these results were cumulated and an updated Transylvanian database (Trs-6) was created. A comparison of the initial and updated Transylvanian databases was made in order to check consequences of the update. The comparison performed between the two databases revealed significant differences at 4 loci. When compared to five other databases (Moldavia, Dobruja, Wallachia, Romania and FBI), significant differences between the original and the updated databases were reported for 10 of the 15 loci analyzed. Therefore, the use of the updated database is recommended any time population data comparison with Transylvanian database has to be done.
Ad Finem Imperii Romani. Studies in honour of Coriolan H. Opreanu.
Stature has proved to be a complex trait with a great potential to provide anthropologists with v... more Stature has proved to be a complex trait with a great potential to provide anthropologists with valuable information.
This review begins with analyzing in what matter do genetic heritability and the environment influence adult
height and it continues with a discussion about the four known methods for calculating stature: skeleton length in the
grave, anatomical and mathematical methods, and sample specific regressions. The aim of this article is to emphasize the
necessity to correctly acknowledge all the parameters that influence adult height, and consequently the way in which it is
determined. Thus, we review the key theoretical debates and methodological advances in the estimation of stature.
The genetic signature of modern Europeans is the cumulated result of millennia of discrete small-... more The genetic signature of modern Europeans is the cumulated result of millennia of discrete small-scale exchanges between multiple distinct population groups that performed a repeated cycle of movement, settlement, and interactions with each other. In this study we aimed to highlight one such minute genetic cycle in a sea of genetic interactions by reconstructing part of the genetic story of the migration, settlement, interaction, and legacy of what is today the Transylvanian Saxon. The analysis of the mitochondrial DNA control region of 13 medieval individuals from Feldioara necropolis (Transylvania region, Romania) reveals a genetically heterogeneous group where all identified haplotypes are different. Most of the perceived maternal lineages are of Western Eurasian origin, except for the Central Asiatic haplogroup C seen in only one sample. Comparisons with historical and modern populations describe the contribution of the investigated Saxon settlers to the genetic history of this part of Europe.
Given the paucity of archaeogenetic data available for medieval European populations in compariso... more Given the paucity of archaeogenetic data available for medieval European populations in comparison to other historical periods, the genetic landscape of this age appears as a puzzle of dispersed, small, known pieces. In particular, Southeastern Europe has been scarcely investigated to date. In this paper, we report the study of mitochondrial DNA in 10 th century AD human samples from Capidava necropolis, located in Dobruja (Southeastern Romania, Southeastern Europe). This geographical region is particularly interesting because of the extensive population flux following diverse migration routes, and the complex interactions between distinct population groups during the medieval period. We successfully amplified and typed the mitochondrial control region of 10 individuals. For five of them, we also reconstructed the complete mitochondrial genomes using hybridization-based DNA capture combined with Next Generation Sequencing. We have portrayed the genetic structure of the Capidava medieval population, represented by 10 individuals displaying 8 haplotypes (U5a1c2a, V1a, R0a2'3, H1, U3a, N9a9, H5e1a1, and H13a1a3). Remarkable for this site is the presence of both Central Asiatic (N9a) and common European mtDNA haplotypes, establishing Capidava as a point of convergence between East and West. The distribution of mtDNA lineages in the necropolis highlighted the existence of two groups of two individuals with close maternal relationships as they share the same haplotypes. We also sketch, using comparative statistical and population genetic analyses, the genetic relationships between the investigated dataset and other medieval and modern Eurasian populations.
Genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) were related to bone mineral density, ... more Genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) were related to bone mineral density, bone turnover, and diseases with bone loss, as in periodontitis. RUNX2 regulates transcription of numerous genes and thereby control osteoblast development from mesenchymal stem cells and maturation into osteocytes. During osteoblast development and maturation, RUNX2 cooperates also with other transcription factors and cofactors. Mutations in this gene have been associated with cleidocranial dysplasia, a bone development disorder. Mutations in the PAX9 gene were frequently associated with oligodontia or hypodontia, as well as with Class II/Division 2 malocclusions (with or without hypodontia). The aim of the present paper was to identify genes which we presume to be involved in the development of the craniofacial complex. We selected three markers: VDR (vitamin D receptor - rs731236), PAX9 (rs8004560) and RUNX2 (rs731236) in order to reveal their association with Class I, II and III dent...
δ13C of nematode communities in 27 sites was analyzed, spanning a large depth range (from 130 to ... more δ13C of nematode communities in 27 sites was analyzed, spanning a large depth range (from 130 to 2,021 m) in five Antarctic regions, and compared to isotopic signatures of sediment organic matter. Sediment organic matter δ13C ranged from −24.4 to −21.9‰ without significant differences between regions, substrate types or depths. Nematode δ13C showed a larger range, from −34.6 to −19.3‰, and
Since genomic DNA typing projects were started in Romania, five studies representing six populati... more Since genomic DNA typing projects were started in Romania, five studies representing six populations have been carried out in Transylvania. All these results were cumulated and an updated Transylvanian database (Trs-6) was created. A comparison of the initial and updated Transylvanian databases was made in order to check consequences of the update. The comparison performed between the two databases revealed significant differences at 4 loci. When compared to five other databases (Moldavia, Dobruja, Wallachia, Romania and FBI), significant differences between the original and the updated databases were reported for 10 of the 15 loci analyzed. Therefore, the use of the updated database is recommended any time population data comparison with Transylvanian database has to be done.
Ad Finem Imperii Romani. Studies in honour of Coriolan H. Opreanu.
Stature has proved to be a complex trait with a great potential to provide anthropologists with v... more Stature has proved to be a complex trait with a great potential to provide anthropologists with valuable information.
This review begins with analyzing in what matter do genetic heritability and the environment influence adult
height and it continues with a discussion about the four known methods for calculating stature: skeleton length in the
grave, anatomical and mathematical methods, and sample specific regressions. The aim of this article is to emphasize the
necessity to correctly acknowledge all the parameters that influence adult height, and consequently the way in which it is
determined. Thus, we review the key theoretical debates and methodological advances in the estimation of stature.
Uploads
Papers by Bea Kelemen
This review begins with analyzing in what matter do genetic heritability and the environment influence adult
height and it continues with a discussion about the four known methods for calculating stature: skeleton length in the
grave, anatomical and mathematical methods, and sample specific regressions. The aim of this article is to emphasize the
necessity to correctly acknowledge all the parameters that influence adult height, and consequently the way in which it is
determined. Thus, we review the key theoretical debates and methodological advances in the estimation of stature.
This review begins with analyzing in what matter do genetic heritability and the environment influence adult
height and it continues with a discussion about the four known methods for calculating stature: skeleton length in the
grave, anatomical and mathematical methods, and sample specific regressions. The aim of this article is to emphasize the
necessity to correctly acknowledge all the parameters that influence adult height, and consequently the way in which it is
determined. Thus, we review the key theoretical debates and methodological advances in the estimation of stature.