Antonio Arnaiz-Villena

Antonio Arnaiz-Villena is a Spanish immunologist noted for his research into the genetic history of ethnic groups. Arnaiz-Villena was head of immunology at the Hospital Doce de Octubre in Madrid and president of Spain's National Commission of Immunology from 1991 to 1995.

Ethnicity research

Arnaiz-Villena's research was internationally reported following the publication of a paper on the genetic history of Jews and Palestinians, in the journal "Human Immunology". This became controversial because of its assertions about the origins of the Palestine/Israeli conflict. Following strong criticism, it was withdrawn from the journal and deleted from the scientific archive. Also, academics who had already received a copy of the journal were urged to "physically remove" the pages with the article, in a move that had no precedent in research publishing. [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,605798,00.html Journal axes gene research on Jews and Palestinians] ] The comments about Arab-Israeli conflicts were described as "extreme political writing", which included claims that Palestinians were placed in "concentration camps". Arnaiz-Villena was removed from the journal's editorial board. The decision was met with opposition from several academics. Andrew Goffey, a Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University, England, observing that "it was conceded that the article had not been removed on the basis of its scientific evidence," failed to find anything offensive in the paper. Several scientists wrote to the publishers to support Arnaiz-Villena and to protest about their heavy-handedness. One of them said: "If Arnaiz-Villena had found evidence that Jewish people were genetically very special, instead of ordinary, you can be sure no one would have objected to the phrases he used in his article. This is a very sad business.". [Andrew Goffey, [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mercenary+molecules:+immunology+and+the+holy+war-a0157947618 Mercenary molecules: immunology and the holy war] . "Mediactive", 01 July 2003.]

A paper on the genetic relationship between Greeks and ethnic Macedonians had concluded that "Greeks are found to have a substantial relatedness to sub-Saharan (Ethiopian and West African) people [A. Arnaiz-Villena , E. Gomez-Casado , J. Martinez-Laso (2002). Population genetic relationships between Mediterranean populations determined by HLA allele distribution and a historic perspective. Tissue Antigens Volume 60 Issue 2, Pages 111 - 121] , which separate them from other Mediterranean groups." [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11260506&dopt=Abstract PubMed, HLA genes in Macedonians and the sub-Saharan origin of the Greeks.] ] The conclusions of the paper were related to the "Black Athena" debate and became embroiled in disputes between Greek and ethnic Macedonian nationalists. [ [http://www.spme.net/cgi-bin/articles.cgi?ID=1726 Diana Muir & Paul S. Apelbaum: The Gene Wars, "Azure", Winter 5767, 2007, NO. 27] ] A number of geneticists led by Neil Risch criticized the claims of another Arnaiz-Villena et al. paper dealing with the subject of genetic relatedness between Palestinians and Jews, stating that, "using results from the analysis of a single marker, particularly one likely to have undergone selection, for the purpose of reconstructing genealogies is unreliable and unacceptable practice in population genetics". [Neil Risch, Alberto Piazza, and Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, “Correspondence: Dropped Genetics Paper Lacked Scientific Merit,” Nature 415 (January 2002), p. 115.] Arnaiz-Villena et al coutered this critcism in a response, stating "single-locus studies, whether using HLA or other markers, are common in this field and are regularly published in the specialist literature" [Antonio Arnaiz-Villena, Eduardo Gomez-Casado,& Jorge Martinez-Laso (2002). Single-locus studies. Nature 416, 677 (18 April 2002) http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v416/n6882/full/416677c.html] .

Contrary to his earlier conclusion, however, no sub-Saharan admixture was detected in the Greek sample. Instead, Greeks were found to cluster with other Balkan populations, which includes ethnic Macedonians. [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111%2Fj.1399-0039.2004.00273.x High-resolution typing of HLA-DRB1 locus in the Macedonian population] ] Another paper on the origins of Mesoamerican populations also made claims concerning multi-ethnic origins of populations. [Arnaiz-Villena A, Vargas-Alarcon G, Granados J, Gomez-Casado E, Longas J, Gonzales-Hevilla M, Zuniga J, Salgado N, Hernandez-Pacheco G, Guillen J, Martinez-Laso J.; " [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11144288 HLA genes in Mexican Mazatecans, the peopling of the Americas and the uniqueness of Amerindians.] ]

uspension, accusations and counter-accusations

In 2002, Arnaiz-Villena was suspended without pay from the Hospital Doce de Octubre, after being charged with embezzlement of funds. He was accused of "purchase of products not used in his department's health care activities; purchase of hospital products used in health care activities but in quantities much greater than needed; falsification of statistical data apparently to justify purchases; humiliating treatment of department staff; delay in health care activities; and transfer of department products to the university." [ [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1122636 British Medical Journal, Controversial immunologist faces court case.] ] Though suspended from the hospital he continued his work at the University. One year later he was reinstated to the hospital because "his basic and Constitutional Human Rights had been broken" according to a three body Court. [Sentence 184, TSJ Madrid, February 19th, Tribunal Superior de Justicia -Madrid] All accusations were declared invalid (2003). Another three-body Court judgment again declared invalid all the accusations. [Sentence TSJ, Madrid, January 10th 2004] Arnaiz-Villena was in practice never punished because he belongs only to University staff (Full Professor) and not to the Hospital one. The Public Prosecutor in an unusual thirteen type-written sheets concluded the the accusations were not proved and that some of Arnaiz-Villena collaborators were pressured to declare against him. Lastly, The Royal College of Physicians of Madrid carried out an extensive investigation at Arnaiz-Villena's request and concluded that none of the accusations were soundly based. [Colegio de Medicos-Madrid]

References

ee also

*Sub-Saharan DNA admixture in Europe

External links

* [http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7401/1262 British Medical Journal: Pitfalls of Editorial Miscommunication]