Rates and Patterns of Mitochondrial DNA Evolution in the Genus Macaca

该项目将研究线粒体DNA(线粒体DNA)在特定猕猴种群中的扩散动态；估计具有大陆和岛屿分布的猕猴种群内和种群之间的线粒体DNA多样性水平；并通过检测猕猴种群之间的差异水平来检验速率恒定假说。猕猴的分子研究很重要，因为它与人类有许多相似之处。(1)猕猴被认为与人属的出现几乎同时进行了辐射。(2)它们在东南亚的传播与人类向世界同一地区的扩张是平行的。(3)猕猴和人类有许多与基因变化相关的人口统计学特征。由于这些原因，猕猴的动物地理和分子变化速度之间的关系的证明意味着，我们过去历史上的关键事件也可以类似地确定日期。

This project will examine the dynamics of mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) dispersal within specific macaque populations; estimate levels of mtDNA diversity within and among populations of macaque species that have mainland and island distributions; and, test the hypothesis of rate constancy by examining levels of divergence among macaque populations. Molecular study of macaques is important because of several similarities with humans. (1) Macaques are thought to have radiated at about the same time as the emergence of the genus Homo. (2) Their spread in Southeast Asia parallels the expansion of hominids into the same part of the world. (3) Macaques and humans share many demographic attributes relevant to genetic change. For these reasons, demonstration of a relationship between the zoogeography of the macaques and the rate of molecular change implies that key events in our own past history can be similarly dated.