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。这些进展也为灵长类系统发育和保护相关问题提供了理论和实践见解，并为理解灵长类类群内部和之间分子变异的适应性意义提供了重要窗口。在这个关键时刻，分子灵长类学学科的一个重要的新综合是既合适又关键的，不仅是为了回顾该领域的现状，而且是为了提供一个前瞻性的观点，该领域可以和应该去哪里。考虑到这一点，我们组织了一个名为“分子灵长类学：进展与前景”的国际会议，将于2006年3月在纽约大学举行。会议聚焦于现代分子人类学的四大交叉研究领域（分子生态学、保护遗传学、分子多样性和适应、行为遗传学和比较基因组学），将吸引21位前沿科学家——加上他们研究小组的研究生和博士后成员——参加为期三天的正式演讲、海报会议、我们还将召开小型工作组会议，探讨如何将分子数据用于灵长类生物学和进化研究的理论和实践方面。分子灵长类学处于人类学与进化生物学的交叉领域，发展迅速；这次会议将有助于综合和展示该领域目前的发展，并为今后的工作指明方向。此外，由于没有其他论坛可以聚集目前对灵长类动物进行分子研究的多样化、跨学科的研究人员，会议将为受邀者之间的对话、讨论和知识交流提供独特和前所未有的机会，并将促进全球研究小组之间新的研究伙伴关系和合作关系的发展。最后，会议的各种公共组成部分及其后续活动将促进年轻科学家的教育、培训和参与，并直接使纽约市及周边地区从事灵长类动物学和分子研究的大批活跃的教师、博士后研究人员、研究生和本科生受益。

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.