Biography
Francisco Mauro Salzano, Brazilian human geneticist (Cachoeira do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul 27 July 1928 – Porto Alegre 28 September 2018)
Considered as one of the leading experts on population genetics and genetical analysis of Amerindians
ACHIEVEMENTS
First to illustrate the genetic diversity and some rare genetic conditions in Native Americans
The blood groups of South American Indians. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 15:555-79, 1957
With C.V. Tondo. Hemoglobin types of the Caingang Indians of Brazil. Science 132:1893-4, 1960
Rare genetic conditions among the Caingang Indians. Am. Hum. Genet. 25:123-30, 1961
Revealed a general diversity pattern in South Ameridians
Intra and inter-tribal genetic variability In South Ameridians. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 28:183-9, 1968
Discovered a new type of population structure (fusion-fission)
With J.V. Neel. Further studies on the Xavante Indians. X. Some hypotheses-generalizations resulting from theses studies. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 19:532-42, 1967
Discovered Porto Alegre haemoglobin
With C.V. Tondo & D.L. Rucknagel. Hemoglobin Porto Alegre, a possible polymer of normal hemoglobin in a Caucasian Brazilian family. Am. J. Human Genet. 15:265-79, 1963
He was one of the few experts who wrote on the behalf of the World Health Organization the bioethic principles to be followed in genetic and evolutionary research (1964 & 1968)
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
With P. Skoglund, S. Mallick, M.C. Bortolini, N. Chennagiri, T. Hunemeier, M.L. Petz-Erler, N. Patterson & D. Reich. Genetic evidence for two founding populations of the Americas. Nature 525:104-8, 2015
With D. Reich, D. Patterson, N. Campbell et al. Reconstructing Native American population history. Nature 522 (1):1-6, 2012
With M.S. Jota, D.R. Lacerda, J.R. Sandoval et al. A new subhaplogroup of native American Y-chromosomes from the Andes. Amer. J. Phys. Anthr. 146:553-9, 2011
With T. Haag, A.S. Santos, C. Angelo, A.C. Srebek-Araújo, D.A. Sana, R.G. Morato & E. Eizirik. Development and testing of an optimized method for DNA-based identification of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) faecal samples for use in ecological and genetic studies. Genetica 136:5-5-12, 2009
With V.C. Muschner, A.P. Lorenz, A.C.Cervi, S.L. Bonatto, T. Souza-Chies & L.B. Freitas. A first molecular phylogenetic analysis in Passiflora (Passifloraceae). Amer. J. Botany 90(8):1229-38, 2003
With T.A. Weimer, B. Westwood & E. Beutler. G6PD variants in three South American ethnic groups: population distribution and description of two new mutations. Human Hered. 48(1):92-6, 1998
HONOURS
Honorary Member, Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (1989)
Franz Boas High Achievement Award, Human Biology Association (1999)
Doctor Honoris Causa, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III (2010)
Foreign Member, National Academy of Sciences, USA (1999)
