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 and Head of the "Centre of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA studies" of the Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" (from 1996). Officer of Italian Anthropological Association since 2008. Winner of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei 2009 International Prize"Fabio Frassetto" for anthropology. Research appointments: NATO fellow, University of Hawaii (1998-1999; 1991-1992; 1994); Research Specialist: University of Bremen FRG (1985); University of Naples (1986); Roche Molecular System, Alameda California (1994). Scientific Leader of various programmes of the European Community and of the National Research Council. National and Local Scientific Leader of 2003, 2005 and 2008 PRIN programmes. Scientific organizer of the 51st Symposium of the Society for the Study of Human Biology, Monteporzio Catone, Roma,2009. Scientific director of the Italian group of the International Columbus Identification DNA Team (coordinator Prof. J. Lorente, Univ. Granada). Postgraduate level courses taught: Molecular Anthropology, Molecular Archaeology and Anthropology (University "Tor Vergata"; University "Tuscia" Viterbo; University of Cassino); Master in Scientific Journalism SISSA (Trieste); Masters in "Nature and Science" and in Communication Science (University "Tor Vergata"). Member of the PhD programme in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology and of the Committee of the Master in Science Communication (University "Tor Vergata"). Member of the Senato Accademico Integrato (University "Tor Vergata" 1993-1998). Authors of books on human evolution. Curator of national exhibitions on human evolution, and of workshops and meetings on ancient DNA. Editor of the Annals of Human Biology (Informa). Editorial Board of the Revista Española de Antropologia Biologica. Scientific Committee of the on-line journal Antropos. Reviewer for international and national scientific journals. She is author of a blog on human evolution of nova100 ilsole24ore. Research Interest: Human evolution, aDNA, DNA polymorphisms.

Publications

Books

G. G BIONDI, RICKARDS O. (2009). Umani da sei milioni di anni. ROMA: Carocci editore

G. G. BIONDI, F. GHIONE, RICKARDS O., V. SBORDONI (2008). Evoluzioni. Le Scienze tra Natura e Numeri. Antropologia, Biondiversità, Matematica

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

G. G. BIONDI, RICKARDS O. (2006). Il codice darwin. Prima ristampa aggiornata TORINO: Codice edizioni

G. G. BIONDI, RICKARDS O. (2005). Il codice darwin. TORINO: Codice edizioni

G. G. BIONDI, RICKARDS O. (2003) Uomini per caso. Mito, fossili e molecole nella nostra storia evolutiva. 2a Edizione. ROMA: Editori Riuniti

G. G. BIONDI, RICKARDS O. (2000) Uomini per caso. Mito, fossili e molecole nella nostra storia evolutiva. ROMA: Editori Riuniti

G. G. BIONDI, RICKARDS O. (2000) I sentieri dell'evoluzione. Nuovi indizi sull'origine dell'uomo. NAPOLI: CUEN

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

Articles

MARTÍNEZ-GONZÁLEZ, .L.J., MARTÍNEZ-ESPÍN, E., ALVAREZ, J.C., ALBARDANER, F., RICKARDS O, MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA, C., CALAFELL, F., LORENTE, J.A. (2012) Surname and Y chromosome in Southern Europe: a case study with Colom/Colombo. European Journal of Human Genetics. Vol.20(2), pp.211-6

OTTONI, C., LARMUSEAU, M.H.D., VANDERHEYDEN, M., MARTINEZ-LABARGA, C., PRIMATIVO, G., BIONDI, G., DECORTE, R., RICKARDS, O. (2011) Deep Into the Roots of the Libyan Tuareg: A Genetic Survey of Their Paternal Heritage. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY vol. 145(1), p. 118-24.

OTTONI C, PRIMATIVO G, HOOSHIAR KASHANI B, ACHILLI A, MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA C, BIONDI G, TORRONI A, RICKARDS O. (2010). Mitochondrial Haplogroup H1 in North Africa: An Early Holocene Arrival from Iberia. PLOS ONE, vol. 5(10); p. e13378, ISSN: 1932-6203, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013378

PREDAZZI IM, MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA C, VECCHIONE L, MANGO R, CICCACCI C, AMATI F, OTTONI C, CRAWFORD MH, RICKARDS O., ROMEO F, NOVELLI G (2010). Population differences in allele frequencies at the OLR1 locus may suggest geographic disparities in cardiovascular risk events. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 37; p. 136-148, ISSN: 0301-4460RICKARDS O. (2010). Tracing ancient human migration. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 37; p. 283-287, ISSN: 0301-4460

CRAIG OE, BIAZZO M, COLONESE AC, DI GIUSEPPE Z, MARTINEZ-LABARGA C, LO VETRO D, LELLI R, MARTINI F, RICKARDS O. (2010). Stable isotope analysis of Late Upper Palaeolithic human and faunal remains from Grotta del Romito (Cosenza), Italy. JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE, vol. 37; p. 2504-2512, ISSN: 0305-4403MESSINA F, SCORRANO G, MARTINEZ-LABARGA CM, ROLFO MF, RICKARDS O. (2010). Mitochondrial DNA variation in an isolated area of Central Italy. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 37; p. 385-402, ISSN: 0301-4460

OTTONI C, MARTINEZ-LABARGA C, VITELLI L, SCANO G, FABRINI E, CONTINI I, BIONDI G, RICKARDS O. (2009). Human mitochondrial DNA variation in Southern Italy. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 36; p. 785-811, ISSN: 0301-4460

OTTONI C, MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA C, LOOGVÄLI EL, PENNARUN E, ACHILLI A, DE ANGELIS F, TRUCCHI E, CONTINI I, BIONDI G, RICKARDS O. (2009). First genetic insight into Libyan Tuaregs: a maternal perspective. ANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, vol. 73; p. 438-448, ISSN: 0003-4800

WOLF A, MILLAR DS, CALIEBE A, HORAN M, NEWSWAY V, KUMPF D, STEINMANN K, CHEE I-S, LEE Y-H, MUTIRANGURA A, PEPE G, RICKARDS O., SCHMIDTKE J, SCHEMPP W, CHUZHANOVA N, KEHRER-SAWATZKI H, KRAWCZAK M, COOPER DN (2009). A Gene Conversion Hotspot in the Human Growth Hormone (GH1) Gene Promoter. HUMAN MUTATION, vol. 30; p. 239-247, ISSN: 1059-7794

OTTONI C, KOON H.E.C, COLLINS M.J, PENKMAN K.E.H, RICKARDS O., CRAIG O.E (2009). Preservation of ancient DNA in thermally damaged archaeological bone. NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN, vol. 96; p. 267-278, ISSN: 0028-1042, doi: 10.1007/s00114-008-0478-5

CRAIG OE, BIAZZO M, O'CONNELL T, GARNSEY P, MARTINEZ-LABARGA C, LELLI R, SALVADEI L, TARTAGLIA G, NAVA A, RENO' L, FIAMMENGHI A, RICKARDS O., BONDIOLI L (2009). Stable isotope analysis of a coastal Imperial Roman population from Italy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, vol. 139; p. 572-583, ISSN: 0002-9483

LEWIS MD, HORAN M, NEWSWAY V, REES DA, EASTER TE, PEPE G, RICKARDS O., NORIN M, SCANLON MF, KRAWCZAK M, COOPER DN (2008). Growth hormone (GH1) gene variation and the growth hormone receptor (GHR) exon 3 deletion polymorphism in a West-African population. MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY, vol. 296; p. 18-25, ISSN: 0303-7207

RICCI F, FORNAI C, TIESLER BLOS V, RICKARDS O., DI LERNIA S, MANZI G (2008). Evidence of artificial cranial deformation from the later prehistory of the Acacus Mts. (southwestern Libya, Central Sahara). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, vol. 18; p. 372-391, ISSN: 1047-482X, doi: 10.1002/oa.946

RÓNAI Z, WITT H, RICKARDS O., DESTRO-BISOL G, BRADBURY A.R.M, SAHIN-TÓTH M (2008). A common African polymorphism abolishes tyrosine sulfation of human anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2). BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL, vol. 418; p. 155-161, ISSN: 0264-6021

LUCA F, BUBBA G, BASILE M, BRDICKA R, MICHALODIMITRAKIS E, RICKARDS O., VERSHUBSKY G, QUINTANA-MURCI L, KOZLOV A.I, NOVELLETTO A (2008). Multiple advantageous amino acid variants in the NAT2 gene in human populations. PLOS ONE, vol. 3 (9) e3136; p. 1-12, ISSN: 1932-6203, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003136

GIARDINA E, PIETRANGELI I, MARTÍNEZ-LABARGA C, MARTONE C, DE ANGELIS F, SPINELLA A, DE STEFANO GF, RICKARDS O., NOVELLI G (2008). Haplotypes in SLC24A5 gene as Ancestry Informative Markers in different populations. CURRENT GENOMICS, vol. 9; p. 110-114, ISSN: 1389-2029

BIONDI G, RICKARDS O. (2007). Race: The extinction of a paradigm. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 34; p. 1-5, ISSN: 0301-4460

KEMP BM, MALHI RS, MCDONOUGH J, BOLNICK DA, ESHLEMAN JA, RICKARDS O., MARTINEZ-LABARGA C, JOHNSON JR, LORENZ JG, DIXON EJ, FIFIELD TE, HEATON TH, WORL R, GLENN SMITH D (2007). Genetic Analysis of Early Holocene Skeletal Remains From Alaska and its Implications for the Settlement of the Americas. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, vol. 132; p. 605-621, ISSN: 0002-9483

BIONDI G., RICKARDS O. (2007). DNA ed evoluzione umana. In: L. SARTI E M. TARANTINI A CURA DI.. EVOLUZIONE, PREISTORIA DELL'UOMO E SOCIETÀ CONTEMPORANEA. p. 107-124, ROMA: CAROCCI EDITORE, ISBN/ISSN: 978-88-430-4360-6

MARTINEZ-LABARGA C, LELLI R, TARSI T, BABALINI C, DE ANGELIS F, OTTONI C, GIAMBRA V, PEPE G, AZZEBI E, FREZZA D, BIONDI G, RICKARDS O. (2007). Polymorphisms of the COL1A2, CYP1A1 and HS1,2 Ig enhancer genes in the Tuaregs from Libya. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 34; p. 425-436, ISSN: 0301-4460

SCACCHI R, PINTO A, RICKARDS O., PACELLA A, DE STEFANO GF, CANNELLA C, CORBO RM (2007). An analysis of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma2) Pro12Ala polymorphism distribution and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in world populations in relation to dietary habits. NMCD. NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, vol. 17; p. 632-641, ISSN: 0939-4753

TAMM E, KIVISILD T, REIDLA M, METSPALU M, SMITH DG, MULLIGAN CJ, BRAVI CM, RICKARDS O., MARTINEZ-LABARGA C, KHUSNUTDINOVA EK, FEDOROVA SA, GOLUBENKO MV, STEPANOV VA, GUBINA MA, ZHADANOV SI, OSSIPOVA LP, DAMBA L, VOEVODA MI, DIPIERRI JE, VILLEMS R, MALHI RS (2007). Beringian Standstill and Spread of Native American Founders. PLOS ONE, vol. 2 (9): e829; p. 1-6, ISSN: 1932-6203, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000829

VYLETAL P, SOKOLOV J, COOPER DN, P.KRAUS J, KRAWCZAK M, PEPE G, RICKARDS O., KOCH HG, LINNEBANK M, KLUIJTMANS LAJ, BLOM HJ, BOERS GHJ, GAUSTADNES M, SKOVBY F, WILCKEN B, WILCKEN DEL, ANDRIA G, SEBASTIO G, NAUGHTEN ER, YAP S, OHURA T, PRONICKA E, LASZLO A, KOICH V (2007). Diversity of cystathionine beta-synthase haplotypes bearing the most common homocystinuria mutation c.833T>C: a possible role for gene conversion. HUMAN MUTATION, vol. 28; p. 255-264, ISSN: 1059-7794

WITT H, SAHIN-TTH M, LANDT O, CHEN JM, KHNE T, PH DRENTH J, KUKOR Z, SZEPESSY E, HALANGK W, DAHM S, ROHDE K, SCHULZ HU, LE MARCHAL C, AKAR N, AMMANN R. W, TRUNINGER K, BARGETZI M, BHATIA E, CASTELLANI C, CAVESTRO GM, CERNY M, DESTRO-BISOL G, SPEDINI G, EIBERG H, BMJ JANSEN J, KOUDOVA M, RAUSOVA E, MACEK JR M, MALATS N, REAL FX, MENZEL HJ, MORAL P, GALAVOTTI R, PIGNATTI PF, RICKARDS O., SPICAK J, ZARNESCU NO, BCK W, GRESS TM, FRIESS H, OCKENGA J, SCHMIDT H, PFTZER R, LHR M, SIMON P, WEISS FU, LERCH MM, TEICH N, KEIM V, BERG T, WIEDENMANN B, LUCK W, GRONEBERG DA, BECKER M, KEIL T, KAGE A, BERNARDOVA J, BRAUN M, GLDNER C, HALANGK J, ROSENDAHL J, WITT U, TREIBER M, NICKEL R, FREC C (2006). A degradation-sensitive anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2) variant protects against chronic pancreatitis. NATURE GENETICS, vol. 38; p. 668-673, ISSN: 1061-4036

TARSI T, C. BABALINI, C. MARTNEZ-LABARGA, J.A. LORENTE, M. LORENTE, A. DEL LUCCHESE, R. MAGGI, V. FORMICOLA, RICKARDS O. (2006). Il DNA antico: uno strumento ideale per ricostruire la storia genetica delle popolazioni. In: IN SABBIONI, C., PERSIA, F., CASTELLETTI, L A CURA DI.. Biologia e Archeologia nei Beni Culturali. Conoscenze, problematiche e casi di studio. p. 39-49, COMO: Ass. Italiana di Archeometria Museo Civico di Como, ISBN/ISSN: ISBN 88-85680-23-2

TARSI T, F. NOTO, C. MARTNEZ-LABARGA, R. GIAMPAOLO, C. BABALINI, G. SCANO, I, CONTINI, J.A. LORENTE, M. LORENTE, E. PACCIANI, M. SILVESTRINI, A, DEL LUCCHESE, R. MAGGI, E. LATTANZI, V. FORMICOLA, F. MALLEGNI, F. MARTINI, RICKARDS O. (2006). Ricostruzione della storia genetica per via maternal delle comunità paleolitiche dei Balzi Rossi, delle Arene Candide e del Romito, e di quelle neolitiche ed eneolitiche di Samari e di Fontenoce di Recanati. In: IN MARTINI A.F. A CURA DI. La cultura del morire, origines, progetti, III. p. 315-346, FIRENZE: Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Prostoria, ISBN/ISSN: ISBN 88-6045-099-3

GIAMBRA V, MARTINEZ-LABARGA C, GIUFRE M, MODIANO D, SIMPORE J, GISLADOTTIR BK, FRANCAVILLA R, ZHELEZOVA G, KILIC SS, CRAWFORD M, BIONDI G, RICKARDS O., FREZZA D (2006). Immunoglobulin Enhancer HS1,2 polymorphism: a new powerful anthropogenetic marker. ANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, vol. 70; p. 946-950, ISSN: 0003-4800

LUCIANI S, FORNACIARI G, RICKARDS O., MARTINEZ LABARGA C, ROLLO F (2006). Molecular characterization of a pre-Columbian mummy and in situ coprolite. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, vol. 129; p. 620-629, ISSN: 0002-9483

TREIBER M, SCHULZ HU, LANDT O, PH DRENTH J, CASTELLANI C, REAL FX, AKAR N, AMMANN RW, BARGETZI M, BHATIA E, GLENN DEMAINE A, DESTRO-BISOL G, BATTAGGIA C, KINGSNORTH A, O'REILLY D, TRUNINGER K, KOUDOVA M, MACEK JR M, SPICAK J, CERNY M, MENZEL HJ, MORAL P, PIGNATTI PF, GALAVOTTI R, ROMANELL MGI, RICKARDS O., DE STEFANO GF, ZARNESCU NO, CHOUDHURI G, SIKORA SS, VERLAAN M, BMJ JANSEN J, SIMON P, WEISS FU, LERCH MM, FRIESS H, PIETSCHMANN M, TEICH N, KEIM V, BCK W, GRESS TM, HALANGK W, OCKENGA J, SCHMIDT H, KAGE A, GLDNER C, WITT U, BERNARDOVA J, HALANGK J, ROSENDAHL J, BERG T, WIEDENMANN B, LUCK W, GRONEBERG DA, SEROLE S, BECKER M, NICKE R, WITT H (2006). Keratin 8 sequence variants in patients with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE, vol. 84; p. 1015-1022, ISSN: 0946-2716MILLAR DS