Genealogical Information and the Structure of Rural Latin-American Populations: Reality and Fantasy

Abstract

Genetic data organized in the form of genealogies can provide much information regarding the history and genetic structure of human populations. A large proportion of the population of Latin America is organized in small rural semi-isolated communities, with little immigration, and until the last 50–100 years, little emigration. These communities have a strong sense of their genealogical history, and this ‘genealogical conscience’ is a frequent leitmotif in modern Latin-American literature. In this communication, we compare the characteristics of fictitious genealogies described in two masterpieces of Latin-American literature, Garcia Márquez’ Cien Años de Soledad (A Hundred Years of Solitude) and Verissimo’s·Tempo e·Vento (Time and the Wind) with one existing well-studied population in Argentina, Aicuña All three populations exhibit a number of common characteristics, such as histories of long periods of civil war, and large pedigrees with complex paths of inheritance resulting in complex patterns of inbreeding. Genetic themes common to all three are: (1) the use of genealogical records to substantiate the property of the land or the political power of a kinship; (2) the genealogical registry of biological descendants, independent of their legal or marital status in the clan; (3) the existence of pedigrees of the aristocratic branches in the same kindreds, which illustrate the legal principle of primogeniture; (4) the value of last names as indicators of kinships and the extent of genetic isolation, and (5) the awareness of the deleterious consequences of consanguinity.

Genetic testing and services in Argentina

“…Geographical clusters of single-gene disorders, usually due to founder effects, have been described but are rare (Castilla and Sod 1990). Two of the most conspicuous are of Sandhoff disease in Cordoba province (Dodelson de Kremer et al 1987) and oculocutaneous albinism in La Rioja province (Castilla and Adams 1996). Beta thalassemia is a common recessive disease as Italian ancestry is reported by close to 50 % of the population; however, there are no birth prevalence data, and no clusters have been described (Feliu-Torres et al 2002).…”

Random inbreeding, isonymy, and population isolates in Argentina

“…In many places in Latin America, especially those of small population size, distribution and frequency of surnames mimics onomastics from Macondo, magnificently described by Gabriel García Márquez in "100 Years of Solitude". According to Castilla and Adams (1996) this would be the onomastic reality of many Latin American rural locations geographically isolated and with high consanguinity. According to Castilla and Adams (1996), in these populations, as in others, rare surnames can serve as genetic markers, identifiers of kinship, and indicators of isolation.…”

“…According to Castilla and Adams (1996) this would be the onomastic reality of many Latin American rural locations geographically isolated and with high consanguinity. According to Castilla and Adams (1996), in these populations, as in others, rare surnames can serve as genetic markers, identifiers of kinship, and indicators of isolation.…”

Ethical issues in genetics and public health in Latin America with a focus on Argentina

“…Infant mortality is 11.1 per 1000, and its main causes are perinatal conditions (52 %) and congenital anomalies (27 %) (PAHO 2012). Genetic and congenital disorders have a prevalence similar to that in developed countries (Penchaszadeh and Beiguelman 1998), with variations due to founder effects and consanguineous isolates, including clusters of rare single-gene disorders, such as Sandhoff disease (Dodelson de Kremer et al 1987) and oculocutaneous albinism (Castilla and Adams 1996).…”