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Unité d'anthropologie

Unité d'anthropologie | Université de Genève

ERC

Liste des principaux projets de recherche en cours

Human genetic diversity in East Asia

FNS-funded project running since 2005: Early human settlements in East Asia: HLA molecular variation, population expansions and linguistic differentiations

Summary This project aims at investigating current and new hypotheses on the human peopling history of East Asia through the analysis of highly variable genes in humans (HLA, mtDNA, Y-chromosome, and GM) and in relation to the evolution of human languages. It also proposes to explore the impact of different evolutionary forces on the HLA diversity observed in human populations (migration, demographic expansion and natural selection) by computer simulation. This project includes original methodological developments to tackle with the acute problems of using increasingly complex HLA data in population genetics and of disentangling the effects of multiple evolutionary forces acting on these genes
PI Alicia Sanchez-Mazas & Estella S. Poloni
Principal collaborators María Eugenia Riccio, Da Di, José Manuel Nunes, Mathias Currat, Laurent Sagart (CRLAO, Paris)
Most recent related publications
  • Di & Sanchez-Mazas (2011) Am J Phys Anthropol
  • Riccio et al. (In press) Hum Biol
  • Sanchez-Mazas et al., eds. (2008)

Human genetic variability in East and West Africa

FNS-funded project: Genetic variability in East Africa: GM allotypes and mitochondrial control-region sequences in the Nyangatom and Dasenech from the Omo valley

Summary This project aims to analyse several genetic polymorphisms (mtDNA HVSI, GM, HLA) in 30 years-old serum samples from two neighbouring populations of the Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia in order to infer the level of genetic differentiation between these two linguistically different, but geographically very close populations. It also aims at investigating the molecular variability of the complete mtDNA molecule in a Mandenka population from Eastern Senegal. The main goal is to understand the genetic history of African populations in relation to current theories on modern humans origin and migrations’ history
PI Estella S. Poloni, Yamama Naciri (CJB, Geneva) & Alicia Sanchez-Mazas
Most recent related publications
  • Poloni et al. (2009) Ann Hum Genet;
  • Sanchez-Mazas & Poloni (2008) ELS

Impact of natural selection on human genetic diversity

FNS-funded project: Genetic variability in East Africa: GM allotypes and mitochondrial control-region sequences in the Nyangatom and Dasenech from the Omo valley

Summary Projects aiming at estimating the impact of selective forces on the genetic diversity of human genes submitted to directional or balancing selection: lactase persistence (LAC*P), HLA, classical genes and others: how to disentangle the molecular signatures of human migrations and demographic history from those of natural selection in the genetic variation observed in present human populations? These projects include comparisons between neutrally evolving and selected polymorphisms, as well as the exploration of different evolutionary scenarios through computer simulations in relation to demographic and environmental factors
PI Mathias Currat & Alicia Sanchez-Mazas
Principal collaborators María Eugenia Riccio, Da Di, José Manuel Nunes, Mathias Currat, Laurent Sagart (CRLAO, Paris)
Most recent related publications
  • Sanchez-Mazas et al (2012) Philosoph Trans B
  • Gerbault et al. (2011) Philosoph Trans B
  • Currat et al. (2010) BMC Evol Biol
  • Gerbault et al. (2009) PLoS One

Genetic consequences of population past demography in Europe

FNS-funded project

Summary Interdisciplinary projects aiming at reconstructing the prehistory of Humans in Europe using genetic data and realistic computer simulations. We particularly focus on the genetic consequences of the main population demographic events in Europe: i) the arrival of modern humans ~40,000 years ago, ii) possible retreat into southern refugee during glacial era ~ 20,000 years ago, followed by re-expansion toward the north and iii) the Neolithic transition ~10,000 years ago. Simulations of evolutionary scenarios, incorporating the influence of the environment are performed using a homemade program called SPLATCHE and developed in collaboration with L.Excoffier and N.Ray
PI Mathias Currat
Principal collaborators Nuno Silva, Laurent Excoffier (Bern), Nicolas Ray (Institute of Environmental Sciences, Geneva), Ron Pinhasi (Dublin, Irland), Joachim Burger (Mainz, Germany), Daniel Wegmann (Fribourg).
Web site Bean project
Most recent related publications
  • Currat & Silva (2013) Human Heredity
  • Arenas et al (2013) Mol Biol Evol
  • Pinhasi et al (2012) Trends in Genetics
  • Arenas et al, (2012) Mol Biol Evol
  • Currat (2012) Topoi book
  • Currat & Excoffier (2011) PNAS
  • François et al. (2010) Mol Biol Evol
  • Currat et al. (2008) Evolution

HLA-NET: A European network of the HLA diversity for histocompatibility, clinical transplantation, epidemiology and population genetics

EU-funded COST Action running since 2009

Summary The main objectives of this Action are, through networking European research teams working on Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecular diversity in human populations, to standardize protocols and procedures for sampling, handling, storing and processing data and to develop a user-friendly bioinformatics platform accessible to scientists in different fields
PI Alicia Sanchez-Mazas & José Manuel Nunes
Principal collaborators Stéphane Buhler, Jean-Marie Tiercy (HUG) and more than 20 European laboratories
Web site HLA-NET
Most recent related publications

The HLA genetic structure of Switzerland through the analysis of more than 20,000 individuals from 15 regions

SER-funded Swiss COST project running since 2009

Summary This project aims at analyzing the fine HLA genetic structure of the Swiss population through the statistical analysis of about 21,000 bone marrow donors recruited in 15 cantonal transfusion centers. Possible genetic variation across national linguistic boundaries and different geographic regions are investigated in order to define the HLA genetic profile and genetic structure of the Swiss population, to be used both in stem cell transplantation and epidemiological studies; to analyze the Swiss HLA genetic landscape in relation to that of other Europe countries; and to integrate the results into a broader reconstruction of European genetic history.
PI Alicia Sanchez-Mazas
Principal collaborators Stéphane Buhler, José Manuel Nunes, Jean-Marie Tiercy (HUG), Grazia Nicoloso (Bern)
Most recent related publications

AHPD: Analysis of HLA population data to reconstruct the history of modern humans and infer the role of natural selection

Project related to the International Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Workshops

Summary this project aims to improve our knowledge on the HLA molecular diversity of present human populations through international collaboration with tissue-typing laboratories in order to investigate their genetic history and to better understand the mechanisms underlying the evolution of this complex genetic system
PI Alicia Sanchez-Mazas
Principal collaborators María Eugenia Riccio, José Manuel Nunes, Mathias Currat, Da Di, Jean-Marie Tiercy and more than 15 International laboratories
Web site AHPD
Most recent related publications
  • Buhler et al. (2011) PLoS One
  • Nunes et al. (2010) Tissue Antigens
  • Fadhlaoui-Zid et al. (2010) Tissue Antigens
  • Harbo et al. (2010) Tissue Antigens

Gene[VA]

Summary Databases and computer tools for the study of HLA and other genetic markers
PI José Manuel Nunes & Alicia Sanchez-Mazas
Principal collaborators Christelle Vangenot
Web site Generate and AHPD
Most recent related publications
  • Buhler et al. (2011) PLoS One
  • Nunes et al. (In press) Hum Biol
  • Nunes et al. (2010) Tissue Antigens

Polymorphism of drug-metabolizing genes (NAT2 and others)

Summary project aiming at exploring the evolution of human and ape diversity in NAT2, the best-known drug-metabolizing gene, as well as in other pharmacogenetic traits
PI Estella S. Poloni, Audrey Sabbagh (Paris, France), Aparup Das (New Delhi, India), Pierre Darlu (Paris, France), Brigitte Crouau-Roy (Toulouse, France), Pascal Gagneux (La Jolla, California, USA)
Principal collaborators xxx
Most recent related publications
  • Sabbagh et al. (2008) BMC Genet

Global genetic diversity at Y chromosome and Nuclear STRs

Summary Project aiming at describing the worldwide genetic structure of STRs (microsatellites) used in forensic studies (autosomes and Y chromosome).
PI Estella S Poloni, Mathias Currat , Luisa Pereira (Porto, Portugal)
Most recent related publications
  • Alshamali et al. (2009) Hum Hered

Evolution of the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) in Northwestern Madagascar

Summary Projects aiming at reconstructing the history and evolution of the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) as well as the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the genetic structure of this species.
PI Mathias Currat, Ute Radespiel (Hannover, Germany), Lounès Chikhi (Toulouse, France)
Most recent related publications
  • Schneider et al. (2010) BMC Evol Biol

Implication of mtDNA variation in the pathogenesis of lipoatrophy related to antiretroviral therapy

Summary Project aiming at evidencing a possible role of mitochondrial genomic variants in the development of lipoatrophy after exposure to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected patients.
PI Estella S Poloni, Millan Ortiz Serrano (University of Lausanne) , Amalio Telenti (University of Lausanne) Philip E. Tarr (University of Basel)
Most recent related publications
  • Otiz et al. (2009) J Infect Dis

Organigramme synthétique des recherches

Organigramme synthétique des recherches du labo AGP

Un organigramme synthétique des recherches illustre les relations thématiques entre les différents projets de recherche.

Université de Genève
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