Research Conference: Molecular Primatology -- Progress and Promise

在过去的十年中，分子技术和分析方法的进步已经彻底改变了野生灵长类动物的行为，交配系统，社会组织和种群动态的研究。 这些进展也产生了理论和实践上的洞察灵长类动物的遗传学和保护相关的问题，并提供了一个重要的窗口了解分子变异的适应意义，无论是在灵长类动物类群之间。 在这个节骨眼上，分子灵长类学学科的一个重要的新的综合是适时的和至关重要的，不仅审查该领域的现状，而且还提供了一个前瞻性的观点，该领域可以和应该去。考虑到这一点，我们于2006年3月在纽约大学组织了一次题为“分子灵长类动物学：进展与希望”的国际会议。 聚焦于现代分子人类学的四个主要和交叉研究领域（分子生态学，保护遗传学，分子多样性和适应性，行为遗传学和比较基因组学），会议将吸引21个前沿科学家-加上研究生和博士后成员的研究小组-为期三天的正式演讲，海报会议，和小型工作组会议，我们将探讨如何在灵长类动物生物学和进化研究中使用分子数据的理论和实践方面。位于人类学和进化生物学的交界处，分子灵长类动物学领域正在快速发展和迅速增长;这次会议将有助于综合和展示这一领域的当前发展，并为今后的工作指明方向。 此外，由于没有其他论坛存在聚集的多样性，跨学科的研究人员组目前进行灵长类动物的分子研究，会议将提供一个独特的和前所未有的机会，对话，讨论和知识交流之间的一套受邀者，并将促进新的研究伙伴关系和协作关系的发展，研究小组之间的联系从地球仪。 最后，会议的各种公共部分及其后续活动将促进教育，培训和年轻科学家的参与，并直接受益于纽约市及周边地区从事灵长类动物学和分子研究的教师，博士后研究人员，研究生和本科生的大型和活跃群体。

Over the past decade, advances in molecular techniques and analytical methods have revolutionized studies of the behavior, mating systems, social organization, and population dynamics of wild primates. These advances have also yielded both theoretical and practical insight into issues relevant to primate phylogenetics and conservation and have provided an important window into understanding the adaptive significance of molecular variation, both within and between primate taxa. At this juncture, a major new synthesis of the discipline of Molecular Primatology is both opportune and crucial, not only for reviewing the current state of the field but also for providing a forward-looking view on where the field can and should go. With this in mind, we have organized an international conference entitled Molecular Primatology: Progress and Promise to be held at New York University in March, 2006. Focusing on four major and cross-cutting areas of research in modern molecular anthropology (Molecular Ecology, Conservation Genetics, Molecular Diversity and Adaptaion, and Behavioral Genetics and Comparative Genomics), the conference will draw together 21 cutting-edge scientists - plus graduate students and post-doctoral members of their research groups - for three days of formal presentations, poster sessions, and small working group meetings in which we will explore both theoretical and practical aspects of how molecular data can be used in studies of primate biology and evolution.Situated at the interface of anthropology and evolutionary biology, the field of Molecular Primatology is fast-moving and growing rapidly; this conference will serve to synthesize and showcase current developments in the field and to chart a course for future work. Moreover, because no other forum exists for assembling the diverse, interdisciplinary group of researchers currently conducting molecular research on primates, the conference will offer a unique and unprecedented opportunity for dialog, discussion, and intellectual interchange among the set of invitees and will foster the development of new research partnerships and collaborative connections between research groups from around the globe. Finally, the various public components of the conference and its follow-up will promote the education, training, and involvement of younger scientists and directly benefit the large and active group of faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates engaged in both primatological and molecular research in New York City and the surrounding area.