Research Interests

Olga Rickards was one of the first scientist in Italy to apply Molecular Anthropology to the reconstruction of the origin and history of human populations, traditionally studied through palaeontology and archaeology. Her research group has investigated human genetic variability at both protein and DNA levels, starting in the early seventies. This data was used to explore the evolutionary history of populations living in various geographical areas, providing a quantitative and temporal framework that was unavailable from other types of evidence. Her research has focused on characterizing ancient genetic material from prehistoric populations from Italy, North Africa and South America and on comparing this material with sequence data from modern populations.

Current Projects

Brief CV

Full Professor of Molecular Anthropology (from 2000) and Head of the "Departmental Centre of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA studies" (from 1996; Dep. Biology, Univ. "Tor Vergata" Rome). Education: Diploma maturità classica 1970-1971;Laurea magna cum laude (Nat. Sc., Univ. "La Sapienza", Rome, 1977-78); Laurea magna cum laude (Biol. Sc., Univ. "La Sapienza"1980-81). Long/short term research appointments: Assistant Professor (Univ. "Tor Vergata",1984-2000); NATO fellow, Dep.Genetics and Mol. Biology, Univ. Hawaii (1998-1999; 1991-1992; 1994); Research Specialist: Dep. Human Biology/Physical Anthropology, Univ. Bremen FRG (1985); Dep. Genetics, General Biology, Univ. Naples (1986); Human Genetics Lab, Roche Molecular System, Alameda California (1994). Scientific Leader of various programmes of the European Community and of the National Research Council (CNR, Strategic programme "Biological Archive" and Special Project "Safeguard of the Cultural Heritage") on the mitochondrial DNA variability of archaeological and present human populations of Southern America and the Mediterranean area. Scientific Leader of a local unit of 2003-2005 PRIN programme (title of the research: Nomads and sedentary people. Scientific director of the Italian group of the International Columbus Identification DNA Team (coordinator Prof. J. Lorente, Univ. Granada).

Publications

Books

G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS –Il codice darwin. Codice edizioni, Torino 2005.

G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS –Il codice darwin. Codice edizioni, Prima ristampa aggiornata, Torino 2006.

G. BIONDI, F. MARTINI, G. ROTILIO, O. RICKARDS- In carne e ossa. DNA, cibo e culture dell'uomo preistorico. Editori Laterza, Bari 2006 (in press).

G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS -La storia della nostra origine. Assessorato alla Pubblica istruzione, Comune di Rimini, Arengo, Rimini, 1993-94.

G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS -I sentieri dell’evoluzione. Nuovi indizi sull’origine dell’uomo. CUEN, Napoli, 2000.

G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS –Uomini per caso. Mito, fossili e molecole nella nostra storia evolutiva. Editori Riuniti, Roma 2000.

G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS –Uomini per caso. Mito, fossili e molecole nella nostra storia evolutiva. 2a Edizione. Editori Riuniti, Roma 2003.

Articles

H. WITT, M. SAHIN-TÓTH, O. LANDT, J. M. CHEN, T. KÄHNE, J. PH DRENTH, Z. KUKOR, E. SZEPESSY, W. HALANGK, S. DAHM, K. ROHDE, H. U. SCHULZ, C. LE MARÉCHAL, N. AKAR, R. W. AMMANN, K. TRUNINGER, M. BARGETZI, E. BHATIA, C. CASTELLANI, G. M. CAVESTRO, M. CERNY, G. DESTRO-BISOL, G. SPEDINI, H. EIBERG, J. BMJ JANSEN, M. KOUDOVA, E. RAUSOVA, M. MACEK JR., N. MALATS, F. X REAL, H. J. MENZEL, P. MORAL, R. GALAVOTTI, P. F. PIGNATTI, O. RICKARDS, J. SPICAK, N. O. ZARNESCU, W. BÖCK, T. M. GRESS, H. FRIESS, J. OCKENGA, H. SCHMIDT, R. PFÜTZER, M. LÖHR, P. SIMON, F. U. WEISS, M. M. LERCH, N. TEICH, V. KEIM, T. BERG, B. WIEDENMANN, W. LUCK, D. A. GRONEBERG, M. BECKER, T. KEIL, A. KAGE, J. BERNARDOVA, M. BRAUN, C. GÜLDNER, J. HALANGK, J. ROSENDAHL, U. WITT, M. TREIBER, R. NICKEL, C. FÉREC - A degradation-sensitive anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2) variant protects against chronic pancreatitis. Nature Genetics, 38, 668-673, 2006.

F. RICCI, C. FORNAI., V. TIESLER BLOS, O. RICKARDS, S. DI LERNIA, G. MANZI – Evidence of Artificial Cranial Deformation From the Later Prehistory of South-Western Libya, Central Sahara. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2006 (in press).

M. TREIBER, H.U. SCHULZ, O. LANDT, J. PH DRENTH, C. CASTELLANI, F. X. REAL, N. AKAR, R. W. AMMANN, M. BARGETZI, E. BHATIA, A. GLENN DEMAINE, G. DESTRO-BISOL, C. BATTAGGIA, A. KINGSNORTH, D. O'REILLY, K. TRUNINGER, M. KOUDOVA, M. MACEK JR., J. SPICAK, M. CERNY, H.J. MENZEL, P. MORAL, P. F. PIGNATTI, R. GALAVOTTI, M. G. ROMANELLI, O. RICKARDS, G. F. DE STEFANO, N. O. ZARNESCU, G. CHOUDHURI, S. S. SIKORA, M. VERLAAN, J. BMJ JANSEN, P. SIMON, F. U. WEISS, M. M. LERCH, H. FRIESS, M. PIETSCHMANN, N. TEICH, V. KEIM, W. BÖCK, T. M. GRESS, W. HALANGK, J. OCKENGA, H. SCHMIDT, A. KAGE, C. GÜLDNER, U. WITT, J. BERNARDOVA, J. HALANGK, J. ROSENDAHL, T. BERG, B. WIEDENMANN, W. LUCK, D. A. GRONEBERG, S. SEROLE, M. BECKER, R. NICKE, H. WITT - Keratin 8 sequence variants in patients with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2006 (in press).

P. Vyleťal, J. Sokolová, D. N. Coope, J. P.Kraus, M. Krawczak, G. Pepe, O. Rickards, H. G. Koch, Michael Linnebank; Leo A. J. Kluijtmans; Henk J. Blom; Godfried H. J. Boers; Mette Gaustadnes; Flemming Skovby; Bridget Wilcken; David E. L. Wilcken; Generoso Andria; Gianfranco Sebastio; Eileen R. Naughten; Sufin Yap; Toshihiro Ohura; Ewa Pronicka; Aranka Laszlo; Viktor Kožich - Diversity of cystathionine b-synthase haplotypes bearing the most common omocystinuria mutation c.833T>C: a possible role for gene conversion, Human Mutation 2006 (in press).

G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, T. TARABORELLI, B. CIMINELLI, G. GRUPPIONI -Biodemography and genetics of the Berba of Benin. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 99, 519-535, 1996 (Wiley-Liss, New York, USA).

G. PEPE, O. RICKARDS, O. CAMACHO, A.M. GORI, T. BRUNELLI, B. GIUSTI, M. ATTANASIO, D. PRISCO, G.F. GENSINI, R. ABBATE -Prevalence of factor V Leiden Mutation in non European populations. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 77, 329-331, 1997 (Stuttgart, Germany).

H. WALTER, H. MATSUMOTO, H. DANKER-HOPFE, G.F. DE STEFANO, O. RICKARDS -GM and KM allotypes in nine population samples of Sicily. Annals of Human Biology, 24, 419-426, 1997 (Taylor & Francis Ltd, London, England).

R. SCACCHI, R.M. CORBO, O. RICKARDS, E. MANTUANO, A. GUEVARA, G.F. DE STEFANO -Apolipoproteins B and E genetic polymorphisms in the Cayapa Indians of Ecuador. Human Biology, 69, 375-382, 1997 (Wayne State University Press, Detroit, USA).

G. PEPE, O. CAMACHO-VANEGAS, B. GIUSTI, T. BRUNELLI, R. MARCUCCI, M. ATTANASIO, O. RICKARDS, G.F. DE STEFANO, D. PRISCO, G.F. GENSINI, R. ABBATE -Heterogeneity in world distribution of the thermolabile C677T mutation in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. American Journal of Human Genetics, 63, 917-920, 1998 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA).

O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, G. SCANO, G.F. DE STEFANO, G. BIONDI, M. PACACI, H. WALTER -Genetic history of the population of Sicily. Human Biology, 70, 699-714, 1998 (Wayne State University Press, Detroit, USA).

O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, S. BIANCO G. SCANO, T. DORO-GARETTO, M. MASALI, G. BIONDI -A molecular approach to the study of the ancient populations of southern Italy. Proceedings of the 1st International Congress on: “Science and Technology for the safeguard of Cultural Heritage in the Mediterranean Basin”, November 27-December 2, 1995, Catania-Siracusa, Vol. II, pp. 1425-1430, Luxograph s.r.l., Palermo, 1998.

G. PEPE, O. CAMACHO-VANEGAS, O. RICKARDS, B. GIUSTI, P. COMEGLIO, T. BRUNELLI, R. MARCUCCI, D. PRISCO, G.F. GENSINI, R. ABBATE -World distribution of the T833/844INS68 CBS in cis double mutation: a reliable anthropological marker. Human Genetics,104, 126-129, 1999 (Springer International, New York, USA - Berlin, Germany).

R.M. CORBO, R. SCACCHI, O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, G.F. DE STEFANO -An investigation of human apolipoproteins B and E polymorphisms in two African populations from Ethiopia and Benin. American Journal of Human Biology 11, 297-304, 1999 (Wiley-Liss, New York, USA).

C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, O. RICKARDS, R. SCACCHI, R.M. CORBO, G. BIONDI, J.A. PEÑA, C. VARAS DE VIEIRA, A.E.B. GUEVARA, M.S. MESA SANTURINO, G.F. DE STEFANO -Genetic population structure of two African-Ecuadorian communities of Esmeraldas (Ecuador). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 109, 159-174, 1999 (Wiley-Liss, New York, USA).

O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, J.K. LUM, G.F. DE STEFANO, R.L. CANN -Mitochondrial DNA history of the Cayapa Amerinds of Ecuador: detection of additional founding lineages for Native American populations. American Journal of Human Genetics 65, 519-530, 1999 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA).

R. SCOZZARI, F. CRUCIANI, P. SANTOLAMAZZA, P. MALASPINA, A. TORRONI, D. SELLITTO, B. ARREDI, G. DESTRO-BISOL, G.F. DE STEFANO, O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, D. MODIANO, G. BIONDI, P. MORAL, A. OLCKERS, D.C. WALLACE A. NOVELLETTO -Combined use of biallelic and microsatellite Y chromosome polymorphisms to infer affinities among African populations. American Journal of Human Genetics 65, 829-846, 1999 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA).

C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, O. RICKARDS -La utilización del DNA antiguo en la investigación de la historia evolutiva humana. Revista Española de Antropologia Biologica 20, 195-213, 2000. (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, España).

A.B. BEGOVICH, W. KLITZ, L.L. STEINER, S. GRAMS, V. SURAJ-BAKER, J. HOLLENBACH, E. TRACHTENBERG, L. LOUIE, P.A. ZIMMERMAN, A.V.S. HILL, M. STONEKING, T. SASAZUKI, O. RICKARDS, V.P.K. TITANJI, V.I. KONENKOV, M.L. SARTAKOVA – HLA-DQ haplotypes in 15 different populations. In: M. Kasahara (Ed), Major Histocompatibility Complex.Evolution, Structure, and Function, pp. 412-426, Springer-Verlag Tokyo, Hong Kong, 2000.

O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ LABARGA, R.CASALOTTI , G. CASTELLANA, A.M. TUNZI SISTO , F. MALLEGNI -MtDNA variability in extinct and extant populations of Sicily and southern Italy. In: C. Renfrew & K.Boyle (Eds), Archaeogenetics: DNA and the population prehistory of Europe, pp. 175-183, McDonald Institute Monographs, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge, 2000.

O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, R. CASALOTTI, G. CASTELLANA, A. M. TUNZI SISTO, F. MALLEGNI. - Molecular anthropology in the reconstruction of the peopling of southern Italy. In: Guarino A. (Ed.): Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress on: “Science and Technology for the safeguard of Cultural Heritage in the Mediterranean Basin”, July 5-9 1999, Paris, France, Vol 2, pp. 1111-1114, Paris, Amsterdam, New York, Oxford, Shannon, Tokyo. Elsevier. 2000.

O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, M. FAVARO, D. FREZZA, F. MALLEGNI -DNA analyses of the remains of Prince Branciforte Barresi family. International Journal of Legal Medicine 114, 141-146, 2001 (Springer, Berlin-Heidelberg, Germany).

E. TARAZONA-SANTOS, D.R. CARVALHO-SILVA, D. PETTENER, D. LUISELLI, G.F. DE STEFANO, C. MARTÍNEZ LABARGA, O. RICKARDS, C. TYLER-SMITH , S.D.J. PENA, F.R. SANTOS -Genetic differentiation in South Amerindians is related to environmental and cultural diversity: evidence from the Y chromosome. American Journal of Human Genetics 68, 1485-1496, 2001 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA).

A.B. BEGOVICH, P.V. MOONSAMY, S.J. MACK, L.F. BARCELLOS, L.L. STEINER, S. GRAMS, V. SURAJ-BAKER, J. HOLLENBACH, E. TRACHTENBERG, L. LOUIE, P. ZIMMERMAN, A.V.S. HILL, M. STONEKING, T. SASAZUKI, V.I. KONENKOV, M.L. SARTAKOVA, V. P.K. TITANJI, O. RICKARDS, AND W. KLITZ -Genetic variability and linkage disequilibrium within the DP region: analysis of 15 different populations. Tissue Antigens 57, 424-439, 2001 (Munksgaard, Blackwell publishing, New York, USA).

A. TORRONI, H.J. BANDELT, V. MACAULAY, M. RICHARDS, F. CRUCIANI, C. RENGO, V. MARTINEZ-CABRERA, R. VILLEMS, T. KIVISILD, E. METSPALU, J. PARIK, H.V. TOLK, K. TAMBETS, P. FORSTER, B. KARGER, P. FRANCALACCI, P. RUDAN, B. JANICIJEVIC, O. RICKARDS, M.L. SAVONTAUS, K. HUOPONEN, V. LAITINEN, S. KOIVUMÄKI, B. SYKES, E. HICKEY, A. NOVELLETTO, P. MORAL, D. SELLITTO, A. COPPA, N. AL-ZAHERI, A.S. SANTACHIARA-BENERECETTI, O. SEMINO, R. SCOZZARI -A Signal from Human mtDNA of Postglacial Recolonization in Europe. American Journal of Human Genetics, 69, 844-852, 2001 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA).

E. TARAZONA-SANTOS, D.R. CARVALHO-SILVA, D. PETTENER, D. LUISELLI, G.F. DE STEFANO, C. MARTÍNEZ LABARGA, O. RICKARDS, C. TYLER-SMITH , S.D.J. PENA, F.R. SANTOS -Reply to Rothhhammer and Moraga, American Journal of Human Genetics 69, 904-906, 2001 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA).

G.F. DE STEFANO, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, R. CASALOTTI, M. TARTAGLIA, A. NOVELLETTO, G. PEPE, O. RICKARDS -Analysis of three RFLPs of the COL1A2 (Type I Collagen) in the Amhara and Oromo of Ethiopia. Annals of Human Biology 29, 432-441, 2002 (Taylor & Francis, London, UK).

G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS -The scientific fallacy of the human biological concept of race. The Mankind Quarterly XLII, 355-388, 2002.

C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, E. METSPALU, C. BABALINI, R. CASALOTTI, G. CASTELLANA, I. CONTINI, R. GIAMPAOLO, F. MALLEGNI, F. NOTO, G. SCANO, M. TUNZI-SISTO, T. KIVISILD, R. VILLEMS, O. RICKARDS -Reconstructing the peopling of southern Italy: molecular characterization of Bronze Age remains. In: Guarino A. (Ed.): Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on: “Science and Technology for the safeguard of Cultural Heritage in the Mediterranean Basin”, July 9-14 2001, Alcalá de Henares, Spain, Vol I, pp. 640-646, CNR-Progetto Finalizzato Beni Culturali, Roma, Italia. 2002.

C. BABALINI, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, J.A. LORENTE, M. LORENTE, O. RICKARDS - Ancient DNA studies: first results, pp. 267-332. In di Lernia S. and Manzi G. (Eds): Sand, stones, and bones. The archaeology of death in the Wadi Tanezzuft valley. AZA Monographs n° 3, All’Insegna del Giglio, Firenze, 2002.

R. SCACCHI R., R.M. CORBO, O. RICKARDS O., G.F DE STEFANO -New data on the world distribution of the paraoxonase (PON1 Gln 192 ? Arg) gene frequencies. Human Biology 75, 365-373, 2003 (Wayne State University Press, Detroit, USA).

M. REIDLA, T. KIVISILD, E. METSPALU, K. KALDMA, K. TAMBETS, H.V. TOLK, J. PARIK, E.L. LOOGVÄLI, M. DERENKO, B. MALYARCHUK, M. BERMISHEVA, S. ZHADANOV, E. PENNARUN, M. GUBINA, M.GOLUBENKO, L. DAMBA, S. FEDOROVA, V. GUSAR, I. MIKEREZI, J.P. MOISAN, E. KHUSNUTDINOVA, L. OSIPOVA, V. STEPANOV, M. VOEVODA, A. ACHILLI, C. RENGO, O. RICKARDS, G. F. DE STEFANO, S. PAPIHA, L. BECKMAN, B. JANICIJEVIC, P. RUDAN, N., ANAGNOU, S. KOZIEL, E. USANGA, T. GEBERHIWOT, C. HERRNSTADT, N. HOWELL, A. TORRONI, R. VILLEMS - Origin and diffusion of mtDNA haplogroup X. American Journal of Human Genetics, 73, 1178-1190, 2003 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA).

K. TAMBETS, S. ROOTSI, T. KIVISILD, H. HELP, P. SERK, E.L. LOOGVÄLI, H.V. TOLK, M. REIDLA, E. METSPALU, L. PLISS, O. BALANOVSKY, A. PSHENICHNOV, E. BALANOVSKA, M. GUBINA, S. ZHADANOV, L. OSIPOVA, L. DAMBA, M. VOEVODA, I. KUTUEV, M. BERMISHEVA, E. KHUSNUTDINOVA, V. GUSAR, E. GRECHANINA, J. PARIK, E. PENNARUN, A. CHAVENTRE, J.P. MOISAN, L. BARAÆ, M. PERIÈIÆ, P. RUDAN, R. TERZIÆ, I. MIKEREZI, A. KRUMINA, V. BAUMANIS, S. KOZIEL, O. RICKARDS, G. F. DE STEFANO, N.
ANAGNOU, K.. PAPPA, E. MICHALODIMITRAKIS, V. FERÁK, S. FÜREDI, R. KOMEL, L. BECKMAN, R. VILLEMS - The western and eastern roots of the Saami – the story of genetic “outliers” told by mtDNA and Y-chromosome. American Journal of Human Genetics, 74, 661-682, 2004 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA).

O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, E. TRUCCHI, F. RENZI, R. CASALOTTI, G. BIONDI, G. PEPE, G.F. DE STEFANO - Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the type I collagen locus 2 (COL1A2) in two communities of African ancestry and other mixed populations of northwestern Ecuador. Human Biology, 77, 115-123, 2005 (Wayne State University Press, Detroit, USA).

C. BABALINI, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, R. GIAMPAOLO, T. TARSI, I. CONTINI, L. BARAC, B. JANICIJEVIC, I. MARTINOVIC KLARIC, M. PERICIC, A. SUJOLDŽIC, H-V. TOLK, T. KIVISILD, R. VILLEMS, G. BIONDI, P. RUDAN, O. RICKARDS - The genetic history of the Croatian linguistic minority of Molise (southern Italy): a maternal view. European Journal of Human Genetics, 13, 902-912, 2005.

S. LUCIANI, G. FORNACIARI, O. RICKARDS, C. MARTÍNEZ LABARGA, F. ROLLO (2006). Molecular characterization of a pre-Columbian mummy and in situ coprolite. American Journal Physical Anthropology 2005 Dec 9; [Epub ahead of print].

V. GIAMBRA, C. MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA , M. GIUFRE' , D. MODIANO , J. SIMPORE’ , B. K. GISLADOTTIR , R. FRANCAVILLA , G. ZHELEZOVA , S. S. KILIC, M. CRAWFORD, G. BIONDI, O. RICKARDS, D. FREZZA. (2006). Immunoglobulin Enhancer HS1,2 polymorphism: a new powerful anthropogenetic marker. Annals of Human Genetics (in press).