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Heterogeneous effects of natural selection on the Italian newborns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 1997

L. A. ZONTA
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia ‘A.Buzzati-Traverso’, Università degli Studi, Pavia, Italy
P. ASTOLFI
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia ‘A.Buzzati-Traverso’, Università degli Studi, Pavia, Italy
L. ULIZZI
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia Molecolare ‘C. Darwin’, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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Abstract

We have studied the impact of natural selection through stillbirth on the Italian population, taking into account the socio-economic heterogeneity of the country. The results suggest that older age at delivery and lower cultural level of the mothers, indicators of critical biological and socio-economic conditions, even at present increase stillbirth risk. Moreover, in the less favourable environment of the southern regions, selection is still sex-specific.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© University College London 1997

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