Collaborative Research: Understanding the Deep Ancestry of the Indigenous People of North America

在这个项目中，调查人员将利用DNA测序技术和人口遗传学的最新进展，阐明美洲原住民在区域和大陆一级的进化历史，并建立专门针对土著民族的遗传参考小组。该项目将扩大研究人员之间的合作努力，有兴趣研究美洲原住民历史上的重要事件，并将继续与部落社区成员的研究合作。结果将与来自北美七个美洲原住民国家的参与者分享，并通过专用分析服务器提供。该项目还将通过在2021年夏季举办校友会议，为基因组学（SING）研讨会的INNOWLEPENCES人员提供成功的夏季实习机会。这次会议将包括一次公共活动，重点是向土著社区介绍基因组学研究的社会和伦理方面，以及一次研讨会，以解决有关问题，如研究人员和社区之间制定互利协议，这一项目的综合研究设计将利用来自整个北美参与的土著社区的基因组水平数据，这将促进我们对古代移民和适应当地环境的理解，从亚北极到索诺兰沙漠。部落之间的比较分析将提供一个独特的视角对美洲的地方进化史，与欧洲殖民的影响，这导致毁灭性的人口下降，从各种因素，包括疾病和战争的额外重点。这些发现将在一个更广泛的人口框架中进行背景化，以提供这些适应性演变的更丰富的特征，同时阐明因疾病和殖民化而复杂化的细微的人口历史。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

In this project, the investigators will utilize the latest advances in DNA sequencing technology and population genetics to elucidate the evolutionary history of Native Americans, on both a regional and continental level, and establish genetic reference panels specific to indigenous Nations. The project will expand collaborative efforts between researchers with an interest in studying important events in Native American history and will continue research collaborations with tribal community members. Results will be shared with participants from seven Native American Nations throughout North America and also made available via a dedicated analysis server. The project also will enhance the successful Summer internship for INdigenous peoples in Genomics (SING) workshop by creating an alumni conference to take place in the summer of 2021. This conference will include a public event with a focus on presentations of social and ethical aspects of genomics research with indigenous communities, as well as a workshop to tackle relevant issues, such as the development of mutually beneficial agreements between researchers and communities.The comprehensive study design of this project will utilize genome-level data from participating indigenous communities throughout North America, which will advance our understanding of ancient migrations and adaptations to local environments, ranging from the Subarctic to the Sonoran Desert. Comparative analyses between tribes will provide a unique perspective on the local evolutionary history of the Americas, with an additional emphasis on the effects of European colonization, which resulted in devasting population declines from a variety of factors, including disease and warfare. These findings will be contextualized in a broader demographic framework to provide a richer characterization of the evolution of these adaptations, while elucidating nuanced demographic histories complicated by disease and colonization.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.