engleski

Population Structure of the Island of Rab Estimated by the Analysis of Biochemical Traits

Island population isolates are best for investigating theoretical hypotheses about microevolution by applying holistic approach. Anthropological and genetic research of the inhabitants on the Adriatic coast, particularly of the island populations, was started in 1972 by Academician Rudan. Biochemical traits are good indicators of the microevolutionary influence on the biological structure of the population. The aim of this research was to study the population structure of the island of Rab by the analysis of biochemical traits. This research contributes to anthropological investigations of microevolutional trends that have shaped the present genetic structure of the population of Rab. The sample collected in 2002 is comprised of 600 adult examinees from five island settlements. Biochemical traits (creatinine, urate, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, glucose) were analyzed using multivariate biostatistical methods in order to determine the degree of heterogeneity among the populations of the island settlements and the pattern of their variation. Heterogeneity among subpopulations of the island of Rab in biochemical traits was determined by blood glucose and LDL cholesterol. Biochemical variability among the populations corresponds to that previously established for morphological traits of head and body and most likely reflects genetic differences, given the fact that populations have been exposed to a homogenous physical environment. The found biological variability within the population of the island of Rab is in line with the historical data on settlers from different areas from the mainland and in different time periods, and with the data on their reproductive isolation.

population structure; island isolate; Rab; Croatia; biochemical traits

nije evidentirano