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

在这个项目中，研究人员将利用DNA测序技术和种群遗传学的最新进展，在区域和大陆层面上阐明美洲原住民的进化史，并建立针对土著民族的遗传参考小组。该项目将扩大对研究美洲土著历史重要事件感兴趣的研究人员之间的合作，并将继续与部落社区成员进行研究合作。结果将与来自北美七个美洲原住民国家的参与者共享，并通过专用分析服务器提供。该项目还将通过创建将于2021年夏季举行的校友会议，为基因组学（SING）研讨会的土著人民提供成功的暑期实习。这次会议将包括一个公共活动，重点介绍与土著社区进行基因组学研究的社会和伦理方面，以及一个解决相关问题的研讨会，例如在研究人员和社区之间制定互利协议。该项目的综合研究设计将利用来自北美各地参与的土著社区的基因组水平数据，这将促进我们对古代迁徙和适应当地环境的理解，范围从亚北极到索诺兰沙漠。部落之间的比较分析将为美洲当地的进化史提供一个独特的视角，并额外强调欧洲殖民的影响，欧洲殖民导致了包括疾病和战争在内的各种因素导致的人口急剧下降。这些发现将在更广泛的人口统计框架中进行背景分析，以提供这些适应进化的更丰富特征，同时阐明因疾病和殖民化而复杂的细微人口统计历史。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

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.