Understanding the genomic basis and evolutionary history of lactase persistence, and the dynamics of the associated gut microbiome, in pastoralist populations

这个项目解决了关于依赖牛奶的牧民群体中乳糖酶持久性(LP)的潜在遗传学和进化史，以及相关肠道微生物群的动态的基本问题。这项研究的发现将与以前收集的考古数据协同工作，以促进对人类人口历史的理解。此外，该项目将提供对控制宿主相关微生物群的多样性和相对丰度的因素的更细微的了解。此外，这项研究还有助于在研究人员的研究实验室培训少数族裔研究生，提高他们在STEM劳动力中的竞争力和成功。为了进一步扩大这项研究的影响，收集的基因组和表型数据的一小部分将在霍华德大学的研究人员本科课程中进行分析，通过基于项目的活动向更多横截面的学生介绍遗传学、进化论和计算方法。在课堂之外，这个项目将为具有不同科学背景(如生物人类学和微生物学)的教师提供新的机会，探索传统上不适合单一学科的研究途径。研究人员将收集牧民种群的基因组和表型数据，这是一个研究不足的种群。这些数据将被分析用于：(1)识别新的LP相关等位基因及其可能的相互作用；(2)推断已知和新的LP相关基因座的进化历史；(3)调查宿主遗传和环境对肠道微生物群落的影响。分子数据为人类LP的进化提供了一些见解，但到目前为止，这些研究主要集中在特定的、研究得很好的群体上。这项研究提供了关于其他群体的信息，从而有助于这一独特人类特征的遗传结构和进化。随着越来越多的人获得全基因组和表型数据，加上计算方法的进步，研究人员现在能够检验关于影响LP的遗传和微进化因素的新假说，以及关于塑造依赖牛奶人群肠道微生物群组合的遗传和环境变量的假说。该项目由SBE-BCS生物人类学项目和SBE多学科活动办公室共同支持。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project addresses fundamental questions about the underlying genetics and evolutionary history of lactase persistence (LP), and the dynamics of the associated gut microbiome, in milk-dependent pastoralist populations. The findings of this study will work synergistically with previously collected archaeological data to advance the understanding of human population history. Moreover, the project will provide a more nuanced understanding of the factors that govern the diversity and relative abundance of host-associated microbiomes. In addition, the research facilitates the training of minority graduate students in the investigators’ research laboratories, enhancing their competitiveness and success in the STEM workforce. To further expand the impact of this research, a small subset of the collected genomic and phenotypic data will be analyzed in the investigators’ undergraduate courses at Howard University, introducing a greater cross-section of students to genetics, evolution, and computational methods through project-based activities. And beyond the classroom, this project will provide new opportunities for faculty with different scientific backgrounds (e.g. biological anthropology and microbiology) to explore research paths that do not traditionally fit into a single discipline. The investigators will collect genomic and phenotypic data in pastoralist populations, an understudied population. These data will be analyzed to: (1) identify novel LP-associated alleles and their possible interactions; (2) infer the evolutionary history of known and novel LP-associated loci; and (3) investigate the influence of host genetics and environment on gut microbial communities. Molecular data have provided some insights into the evolution of LP in humans, but thus far these studies have focused on specific well-studied populations This study provides information on additional populations thereby contributing to the genetic architecture and evolution of this uniquely human trait. With increased access to genome-wide and phenotypic data together with advances in computational methods, researchers are now able to examine new hypotheses about the genetic and microevolutionary factors that have influenced LP, as well as hypotheses about the genetic and environmental variables that have shaped the gut microbiome assemblage in milk-dependent populations. This project is jointly supported by the SBE-BCS Biological Anthropology Program and the SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.