Dissertation Research: MtDNA Genetic Diversity of the Prehistoric Northeast

对从骨骼材料中获得的线粒体DNA的分析可以用来检查长期灭绝的种群的亲缘关系。该奖项将用于调查大湖区四个种群共计约75个个体的生物关系，并指出遗传多样性模式所反映的人口历史的某些方面。这项调查将检验语言学家和考古学家提出的关于该地区古代和林地时期多样化和不断扩大的人口之间的关系的祖先关系。具体地说，这项研究将测试冰川Kame和Red Ocher种群之间的遗传关系，以及这些种群与下五大湖地区讲古铜语、密西西比语和现代阿尔冈昆语的种群之间的遗传关系。这项研究可以帮助确定考古相似性是否主要是文化传播或人口扩张的结果，此外还可以估计过去4000年来五大湖存在的遗传分化程度。这项研究中包括的种群的mtDNA也将与下五大湖地区其他古代种群的mtDNA进行比较，包括古印第安人诺尔、早期林地阿迪纳、霍普韦尔和史前晚期古堡种群，所有这些都以前或现在正在研究中。此外，这项研究产生的数据将有助于不断增加的信息，这些信息可以用来解决关于新大陆人口的更广泛的问题。

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA obtained from skeletal materials can be used to examine the relatedness of long extinct populations. This award will be used to investigate the biological relationships of four populations, totaling approximately 75 individuals, located in the Great Lakes region, as well as indicate some aspects of demographic history that are reflected in the pattern of genetic diversity. This investigation will test ancestral relationships proposed by linguists and archaeologists regarding the relationship between the diverse and expanding populations of the Archaic and Woodland periods in this region. Specifically, this study will test the genetic relationships within Glacial Kame and Red Ocher populations, as well as between these and Old Copper, Mississippian, and modern Algonquian speaking populations in the lower Great Lakes region. This study can help determine if archaeological similarities were primarily the result of cultural spreads or population expansions, in addition to estimating the extent of genetic differentiation that existed in the Great Lakes during the last 4000 years. The mtDNA of populations included in this study will also be compared with that of other ancient populations of the Lower Great Lakes region including Archaic Indian Knoll, early Woodland Adena, Hopewell, and Late Prehistoric Fort Ancient populations, all previously or currently being studied. In addition, data generated from this study will contribute to the growing body of information that can be used to address broader questions regarding the peopling of the New World.