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The new science of molecular paleogenetics can be considered a “window” to the past of human kind when trying to solve some historical enigmas which have been and still are of concern in the international scientific world, such as: clarifying the identity of the family of Russia’s tsar Nicolai, clarifying the identity and ethnic affiliation of Ötzi, the “man of snows” or that of Christopher Columbus.

The successes of molecular paleogenetics are owed especially to the amazing technological progress made in the laboratory in the last 25 years in the field of DNA analysis, chiefly through PCR methods (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

The results of a German-Romanian paleogenetic study, held at the Institute of Human Biology and Anthropology from the University of Hamburg, Germany (PhD Alexander Rodewald), suggests the keeping of a genetic core of old populations from the Brazen and Iron Age in Romania, which has been transmitted to the actual Romanian population, probably through the Geto-Dacian people, despite the partial Roman occupation and all the genetic influences of the migratory peoples that have crossed the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic territory. These results suggest that a genetic continuity might have existed for about 5000-6000 years, from the Brazen Age to nowadays, and, throughout this whole time, conserved in the genetic structure of the actual population from the Romanian territory. Phd Alexander Rodewald

About Phd Alexander Rodewald

Born on the 18^th of February 1943, in Tulcea, Romania. Son of PhD in Biology Ludovic Rodewald-Rudescu, associate of the Romanian Academy.

Studies

1960-1965 – University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology. National valedictorian with honours.

1971-1974 – graduates from the Faculty of Biology from the University of Munich, in the field of Anthropology and Human Genetics Studies, obtaining a PhD in Biology as Doctor rerumnaturalium, cum laude.

Postgraduate studies: Specialization in Human Cytogenetics (1973-1974), at the “Max Planck” Institute from Munich; Specialization in Clinico-medical human genetics at the Pediatrics and Genetics Clinical-Medicine Faculty (1974-1976); Specialization course in Molecular Genetics at the National Institute of Health Bathesda-Maryland (1990).

Scientific and academic career:

- 1965-1970: intern researcher CP Gr. 3 at the Anthropologic Research Center of the Romanian Academy

- 1967: matriculation for Doctor’s Degree. Publishes parts of his thesis in AnnuaireRoumain d ´Anthropologie(1968-1970)

- 1970-1972: scholar of the “Alexander von Humboldt” Foundation, University of Munich – Faculty of Biology/Anthropology and Human Genetics Institute, Germany

- 1973-1978: Assistant Professor and lecturer and the Anthropology and Human Genetics Institute, University of Munich.

- 1978: Reader examination at Medical Faculty of Saaebruecken-Homburg University, Germany.

- 1978: named PhD at Medical Faculty of Saaebruecken-Homburg University, Germany.

- 1983: named via contest PhD and Head of Department at the Anthropology and Human Biology Institute, University of Hamburg, Germany.

- 1998: named Rector for life at the Human Biology Institute, University of Hamburg

- 1990: named President of the University of Hamburg, for the coordination of the Universities of Hamburg and Bucharest partnership.

- 1994: named President of the University of Hamburg for coordinating the “Sokrates-Erasmus” Program of the EU for South-East Europe, especially for Romania.

Doctorate Director at the University of Saarbruecken, Germany, Medical and Biology Faculties; Doctorate Director at the University of Hamburg; Was given the right to guide Doctor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees by the Rector of the University of Bucharest.

Academic Distinctions:

Member of the Scientists Academy, 1999

Professor Honoris Causa of the University of Bucharest, 2000

Honorary Member of the Medical Science Academy, Romania, 2002

Scientific papers:

- Over one hundred articles in international scientific magazines, such as: American Journal of Medical Genetics, DysmorphologyandClinicalGenetics, American Journal of HumanGenetics, Humangenetik, ClinicalGenetics,HumanHeredity, European Journal of Pediatrics, Advances in ForensicHumangenetics, HumanGenetics, Gene Geography, AnthropologischerAnzeiger, etc.

- Published a book about medical clinical genetics, Hautleistenfibel(1991)

- Contributed with four chapters in books and scientific manuals

Translated by Podaru Gina  

MTTLC, University of Bucharest