The Origin of the Indo-Europeans: Evidence from Genetics

这项提议的主要目标是澄清印欧裔人口的起源。这是一个非常重要的主题，处于利用化石材料进行古人类学研究和利用基因频率数据进行遗传学研究的交界处。目前，关于这些人口的起源和中东农业的传播，有两种相互矛盾的理论。一种观点认为，这些人自己向西迁移，带来了新技术。另一种观点认为，技术是通过扩散传播的，没有人的流动。这里提出的计算机模拟将有助于在这些相互竞争的观点之间做出决定。

The primary objective of this proposal is to clarify the origins of Indo-European populations. This is a very important topic which is at the interface of paleoanthropological studies using fossil materials and genetic studies drawing upon gene frequency data. There are currently two competing theories about the origin of these populations and the spread of agriculture from the Middle East. One view holds that the people themselves migrated westward, bringing the new technology with them. The other holds that the technology spread by diffusion without the movement of people. The computer simulations proposed here will help to decide between these competing views.