NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in China

该行动资助加州大学伯克利分校的Melinda a. Yang于2013年夏天在中国吉林省长春市吉林大学古DNA实验室开展一项生物科学研究项目。项目名称为“确定中国中原地区早期青铜时代民族的遗传关系”。主持会议的科学家是周辉教授。本研究运用种群遗传学的方法，对地理限制区域的古代种群结构进行了分析，并探讨了从古代种群到现在的变化。研究的重点是中国早期青铜器时代中原的商朝（公元前1600-1027年）和周朝（公元前1027-771年）的人口。它比较了商代和周代的骨骼样本以及现代东亚样本的古代遗传物质，以检验商代和周代在生物学上是不同的假设，以及这些古代人群属于当今东亚人的遗传多样性。吉林大学正在提取古代DNA。EAPSI奖学金的广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；介绍该地区的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施；以及对社会、文化和语言的了解。这些活动符合美国国家科学基金会的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期培养国际合作，从而确保美国科学劳动力具有全球意识。此外，EAPSI奖学金将加强加州大学伯克利分校、中国社会科学院和吉林大学之间的学术联系。在奖学金下进行的研究与中国历史直接相关。这项研究将传播给吉林大学附近和美国湾区的中国人。研究结果将作为湾区科学家在学校项目中K-5年级学生的课程，该研究员是该项目的积极成员。这项研究还将在生物分子考古学国际研讨会和分子生物学与进化学会等会议上与考古学和生物学的科学家分享。

This action funds Melinda A. Yang of University of California Berkeley to conduct a research project in Biological Sciences during the summer of 2013 at the Ancient DNA Laboratory of Jilin University in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. The project title is "Determining the Genetic Relationship among Early Bronze Age Peoples in the Central Plains of China." The host scientist is Professor Hui Zhou.This study applies a population genetic approach to analyze ancient population structure in geographically restricted regions and explore changes through time from ancient populations to the present day. The research focuses on human populations of the Shang (~1600-1027 BC) and Zhou (1027-771 BC) dynasties from the Central Plains of Early Bronze Age China. It compares ancient genetic material from Shang and Zhou bone specimens to each other and to modern East Asian samples to test the hypotheses that the Shang and Zhou are biologically distinct and that these ancient populations fall within the genetic diversity of present day East Asians. Ancient DNA is being extracted at Jilin University. Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, the EAPSI fellowship will strengthen academic ties between UC Berkeley, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Jilin University. The research conducted under the fellowship is directly relevant to the history of China. The research will be communicated to Chinese populations near Jilin University and in the Bay Area of the United States. The results will be developed into a lesson to for grade K-5 students in the Bay Area Scientists in School program, of which the Fellow is an active member. The research will also be shared with scientists in archaeology and biology at conferences such as the International Symposium of Biomolecular Archaeology and the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.