Dissertation Research: MtDNA Analysis of the Anasazi (Ancestral Pueblo)

在詹姆斯·奥康奈尔博士的指导下，肖恩·卡莱尔先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他将从大约75具阿纳萨齐人的骨骼中提取线粒体DNA，这些骨骼来自关键部位。这些遗骸跨越了阿纳萨齐史前的整个时期，以及这个群体所覆盖的地理范围。使用既定的方案，线粒体DNA将被提取和清理。将使用聚合酶链式反应来扩增目标片段。然后，适当的mtDNA片段将在六个位置用四种不同的限制性内切酶进行消化，并在假设为所有北美和南美洲印第安人的建立单倍群的单倍群中筛选9bp的缺失。这些数据将用于解决与Anasazi人的一般遗传结构有关的问题，并结合其他可比数据，阐明与该群体的起源及其与其他类似实体的关系有关的问题。阿纳萨齐人史前居住在美国西南部，很可能是今天该地区普韦布洛社会的直系祖先。Anasazi人在考古学上以他们在查科峡谷等地点建造的大型多层住宅和连接偏远村庄的道路系统而闻名。仅靠一项简单的技术，阿纳萨齐人就在一个干旱和不可预测的环境中繁衍了几个世纪，这个系统将人们联系在一起，并将食物分发到数百英里之外。虽然阿纳萨齐人比其他史前群体有更多的共同特征，因此截然不同，但内部存在大量差异，不清楚可能存在多少个亚群。同样，阿纳萨齐人本身的起源也鲜为人知。因为他们的文化在某些方面与中美洲最接近，许多史前学者假设他们是从墨西哥迁徙到美国西南部的。然而，也有可能是性格而不是人在改变。卡莱尔先生收集的基因数据将增加我们对这些问题的理解。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。它将为美国西南部最重要的史前美洲原住民群体提供新的线索。如果放在更广泛的比较背景下，它将提供有关史前北美和中美较大人口结构的新信息。该项目还将帮助培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。

BCS-9809609Under the direction of Dr. James O'Connell, Mr. Shawn Carlyle will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will extract MtDNA from ca. 75 Anasazi skeletons which derive from key sites. The remains span the whole period of Anasazi prehistory as well geographic range covered by this group. Using established protocols mtDNA will be extracted and cleaned. PCR will be employed to amplify target fragments. Appropriate mtDNA fragments will then be digested with four different restriction enzymes at six locations and screened for a 9bp deletion in haplogroups hypothesized to be the `founding` haplogroups of all North and South Amerindians. These data will be used to resolve issues associated with the general genetic structure of the Anasazi peoples and, in combination with other comparable data, shed light on questions relating to the origins of the group and their relations with other similar entities. Anasazi peoples inhabited the Southwestern US prehistorically and are likely the direct ancestors to Pueblo societies present in the region today. The Anasazi are well known archaeologically for the large multistory dwellings they constructed at sites such as Chaco Canyon and the road system which linked far-flung villages. With only a simple technology Anasazi populations flourished for centuries in an arid and unpredictable environment in a system which linked people and distributed food over hundreds of miles. While Anasazi peoples shared more traits in common with each other than with other prehistoric groups and thus stand distinct, a significant amount of internal variation existed and it is not clear how many subgroups may have existed. Likewise the origins of the Anasazi themselves are poorly known. Because aspects of their culture have closest counterparts in Middle America many prehistorians postulate that they moved into the Southwest USA from Mexico. However it is also possible that traits rather than people moved. The genetic data which Mr. Carlyle collects will increase our understanding of these issues. This research is important for several reasons. It will shed new light on the most important prehistoric Native American group in the U.S. Southwest. When set in a broader comparative context it will provide new information on the larger population structure of prehistoric North and Middle America. The project will also assist in training a promising young scientist.