DNA Markers and Genetic Variation in the Human Species

基德博士将继续他的工作，收集、保存和分析大量具有人类学意义的人群的DNA。通过与将提供血液样本的现场人类学家合作，基德博士将保存爱泼斯坦-巴尔病毒转化淋巴母细胞细胞系的材料。然后对这些样本的DNA进行几种DNA多态性（RFLPS）研究。这项工作的一个目标是从尽可能多的人群中构建一个数据库。由于高度多态性RFLPs的数量远远大于经典遗传标记的数量，它们为确定不同种群之间的亲缘关系提供了一个改进的工具。其次，基德博士将追求三个相关目标：1。估算所有群体之间的遗传距离，以推断群体之间的系统发育关系；2 .调查群体内部和群体之间变异的数量和性质，以推断人口统计历史；研究在人类群体中观察自然选择运作的可能性。史前学家和历史学家对追踪人类人口的流动很感兴趣。不幸的是，文字记录只出现在人类记录的后期，考古证据往往是模棱两可的。关于不同群体之间的关系，人们提出了许多具有挑衅性的假设，但根据传统数据，这些假设很难证明或反驳。通过对DNA RFLPS的分析，基德博士的研究应该有助于提供答案。

Dr. Kidd will continue his work to collect, preserve, and analyze DNA from a large series of anthropologically significant populations. Through collaboration with field anthropologists who will provide blood samples, Dr. Kidd will preserve material as Epstein-Barr virus transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines. The DNA of these samples will then be studied for several DNA polymorphisms (RFLPS). One goal of this work is to construct a data bank from as large a number of populations as possible. Because the number of highly polymorphic RFLPs is much greater than the number of classical genetic markers, they provide a much improved tool for determining the affinities between different populations. Secondly, Dr. Kidd will pursue three related goals: 1. estimation of genetic distance between all populations in order to infer the phylogenetic relationships among the groups, 2. investigation of the amount and nature of variability within and between groups for the purpose of inferring population demographic history, and 3. investigation of the possibility of observing the operation of natural selection in human populations. Prehistorians and historians are interested in tracing the movements of human populations. Unfortunately, written records appear only late in the human record, and archaeological evidence is often ambiguous. Many provocative hypotheses have been proposed about the relationships of different groups but with traditional data these are difficult to prove or disprove. Through analysis of DNA RFLPS, Dr. Kidd's research should help to provide answers.