Oct. 24-26, 2009, Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center, Peking University, Beijing, China中文版

Domestications of Animals in East Asia

Ya-Ping Zhang

Kunming Institute of Zoology, CAS, China

Abstract

Understand the origin and genetic differentiation of domestic animals is not only important by itself, but also can provide use information to trace human evolution as well. Our studies suggest that East Asia is an important center for domestication of dog, pig and chicken. Strong artificial selection acted on porcine MC1R gene during the early stage of pig domestication. This case represents an interesting example that the artificial selection on livestock is molecularly scrutinized and associated with culture impact in ancient China.

Ya-Ping Zhang

Kunming Institute of Zoology, CAS, China

Biography

Ya-ping Zhang is a biologist of biodiversity and molecular evolution. He received his Ph.D. in 1991 from Kunming Institute of Zoology. He has been the director of Kunming Institute of Zoology since 2005. He has also been a Professor of Yunnan University since 2002.