Dental morphological markers as a proxy for ethnicity in Robinson Crusoe Islanders / Marcadores morfológicos dentarios en la estimación de la etnicidad poblacional de la Isla Robinson Crusoe

Chilean Robinson Crusoe Island is a semi-isolated location with unusually high rates of both consanguinity and language disorder. The current population of 633 inhabitants is descended almost exclusively from the colonization at the end of the 19th century, as there were few preceding immigrations to the island. This study investigates the genetic composition and degree of miscegenation within the island population, using dental morphological markers. The universe of island children was studied (n= 128, 3 to 15 years of age) using clinical exams, dental cast, and identification of each individual within a previously-constructed extensive genealogy for the island. The frequencies for Carabelli's cusp (61.7%), shovel-shaped incisor (9.4%), and sixth cusp (2.3%), along with the absence of seventh cusp, are consistent with a primarily Caucasian population. The estimated degree of miscegenation suggests an Amerindian component of 4.3%, which is consistent with the extensive known genealogies of the founders. Characterizing the genetic profile of Robinson Crusoe Island, a location with a remarkably high prevalence of language disorder, facilitates the comparison of the genetic variants underlying this pathology with those identified in European populations.

La isla chilena Robinson Crusoe es un semiaislado geográfico de alta consanguinidad. Su población actual de 633 habitantes proviene de la última colonización ocurrida a finales del siglo XIX y pocas migraciones posteriores, en quienes recientemente se ha descrito una alta incidencia de trastorno de lenguaje. Este estudio estimó el componente genético y grado de miscegenación de la población isleña usando marcadores morfológicos dentarios. Se estudió al universo de niños isleños (n= 128, 3 a 15 años de edad) con exámenes clínicos, modelos dentales y ubicación de cada individuo en genealogías extensas confeccionadas previamente. La frecuencia de Tubérculo de Carabelli fue 61,7%, Diente en Pala 9,4%, tubérculo sexto 2,3% y ausencia del rasgo tubérculo séptimo, lo que concuerda con una población eminentemente caucásica. El grado de miscegenación estima que el componente amerindio de esta población es de 4,3%, que también se evidencia al analizar las genealogías extensas originadas por los colonizadores. La descripción del perfil genético de esta población, donde se han reportado altas prevalencias de trastorno de lenguaje, permitirá comparar con las variantes genéticas subyacentes a esta patología descritas para poblaciones europeas.

Alta prevalencia de trastorno específico de lenguaje en isla Robinson Crusoe y probable efecto fundador / High prevalence of specific language impairment in Robinson Crusoe Island. A possible founder effect

Specific language impairment (SLI) occurs in 2 percent to 8 percent of preschool children. Major and candidate genes are probably involved. Genetic drift is a cause for the presence of high frequencies of deleterious alíeles of a specific disease and the founder effect is one of its forms. Robinson Crusoe Island has 633 inhabitants and its actual population began with 8 families that repopulated the island at the end ofXIXth century. Aim To assess the frequency of specific language impairment among children living in Robinson Crusoe Island. Material and methods: All 66 children aged between 3 and 9 years living in the island, were studied. Parents were interviewed and in children, non verbal intelligence, audiometric parameters, comprehension and expression of oral language were assessed. Extended genealogies were also performed. Results: Forty children had at least one parent that was descending of founder families. Among these, 35 percent had SLI. Eighth five percent of SLI affected children came from the same colonizer family. Conclusions: The prevalence of SLI in Robinson Crusoe Island is higher than that reponed in mainland Chile and abroad. This high prevalence, associated to a high frequency of consanguinity, supports the influence of genetic mechanisms in SLI transmission, based on a founder effect.