CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics

KO Albert Min-Shan

2018-10-24 | | 【Print】

Research Interest

We are interested in understanding the population genetics of East Asians, their migration, prehistory, as well as the domestication history of mammals such as dogs and pigs. To this end, we obtained, extracted and sequenced ancient DNA genomes from human and animal fossils from archeological sites.

Population history of Tibetans

The means by which humans successfully colonized the Roof of the World has been an important scientific question. Using ancient DNA from the Gansu-Qinghai-Tibet region will enrich our understanding about the demographic history of Tibetans, genetic connection between ancient Tibet and its surrounding Plateau regions, as well as several biological functional changes that have enabled high-altitude adaptation for humans.

Selected Publications

1. Ko AM, et al. A 22,000-year-old Giant Panda from Guangxi Province in Southern China Reveals a New Mitochondrial Lineage of Pandas. Current Biology, 2018 Jun 18;28(12):R693-R694.

2. Lee CH*, Ko AM*, et al. Association of DSM-5 Betel-Quid Use Disorder with Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder in 6 Betel-Quid-Endemic Asian Populations. JAMA Psychiatry, 2018 Mar 1;75(3):261-269.

3. Tu HP, Ko AM, et al. Variants of ALPK1 with ABCG2, SLC2A9, and SLC22A12 increased the positive predicative value for gout. Journal of Human Genetics, 2018 Jan;63(1):63-70.

4. Li J, Zeng W, Zhang Y, Ko AM, et al. Ancient DNA reveals genetic connections between early Di-Qiang and Han Chinese. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2017 Dec 4;17(1):239.

5. Kuo YM, Hung CM, Tu HP, Ko AM, et al. URAT1 inhibition by ALPK1 is associated with the uric acid homeostasis. Rheumatology (United Kingdom), 2017 Apr 1;56(4):654-659.

6. Tu HP, Chung CM, Ko AM, et al. Additive composite ABCG2, SLC2A9, and SLC22A12 scores of high-risk alleles with alcohol use modulate gout risk Journal of Human Genetics, 2016 Sep;61(9):803-10.

7. Lee CP, Chiang SL, Ko AM, et al. ALPK1 phosphorylates myosin IIA modulating TNF-α trafficking in gout flares Scientific Reports, 2016 May 12;6:25740.

8. Liu YF, Chiang SL, Lin CY, Chang JG, Chung CM, Ko AM, et al. Somatic Mutations and Genetic Variants of NOTCH1 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Occurrence and Development Scientific Reports, 2016 Apr 1;6:24014.

9. Lippold S, Xu H, Ko AM, et al. Human paternal and maternal demographic histories: insights from high-resolution Y chromosome and mtDNA sequences. Investigative Genetics, 2014 Sep 24;5:13.

10. Lee CH, Chiang SL, Ko AM, et al. Betel-quid dependence domains and syndrome associated with betel-quid ingredients among chewers: an Asian multi-country evidence. Addiction, 2014 Jul;109(7):1194-204.

11. Tu HP, Ko AM, et al. Joint effects of alcohol consumption and ABCG2 Q141K on chronic tophaceous gout risk. Journal of rheumatology, 2014 Apr;41(4):749-58.

12. Ko AM, et al. Early Austronesians: into and out of Taiwan. American Journal of Human Genetics, 2014 Mar 6;94(3):426-36.

13. Delfin F, Ko AM, et al. Complete mtDNA genomes of Filipino ethnolinguistic groups: a melting pot of recent and ancient lineages in the Asia-Pacific region. European Journal of Human Genetics, 2014 Feb;22(2):228-37.

14. 16. Brown S, Savage PE, Ko AM, et al. Correlations in the population structure of music, genes and language. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2013 Nov 13;281(1774):20132072.

15. Ko AM, et al. ALPK1 genetic regulation and risk in relation to gout. International Journal of Epidemiology, 2013 Apr;42(2):466-74.