2012-Present Deputy president, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    2007               Academician of Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)

    2005-2012     Director, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences

    2003              Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Distinguished Professor, Yunnan University

    1996-2006  Director, Laboratory of Livestock and poultry Molecular biology of Yunnan Province

    1996-2005  Vice Director, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences

    1995-2000  Professor & Director, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    1992-1995  San Diego Zoo, Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) Postdoctoral fellow

    1991-1992  Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China Assistant Professor

    1986-1991  Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China Ph.D. Genetics Zoology

    1982-1986  Fudan University, Shanghai B.S. Biochemistry

• Genome diversity and adaptive evolution 

Integrated with habitat and behavioral data, we investigate genomic variation, how (and why) the variations are selected , and the evolutionary forces underlying adaptation. Explore the fate of duplicate genes, how novel gene functions, new gene pathways, and gene networks evolved. 

• Origin of domestic animals and artificial selection 

Our studies into the origin and genetic diversity of economically important domestic animals identify their unrecorded history. Genomic comparisons elucidate the genetic bases of domestication, and discover changes in genes or genomic elements that contribute to domestication. 

• Human & animals genetics and evolution 

We use DNA sequence data to reconstruct the pre-history of modern humans and the evolutionary relationships of species, and to investigate the population genetic structure of selected important species. In addition, we probe the genetic causes underlying specific human traits and major diseases, explore changes in morphology, ecology, physiology, and behavior, as well as the mechanisms of speciation and macroevolutionary biogeography.

1.    Liu YH, Wang L, Xu T, Guo XM, Li Y, Yin TT, Yang HC, Hu Y, Adeola AC, Sanke OJ, Otecko NO, Wang M, Ma YP, Charles OS, Sinding MHS, Gopalakrishnan S, Samaniego JA, Hansen AJ, Fernandes C, Gaubert P, Budd J, Dawuda PM, Rueness EK, Jiang LB, Zhai WW, Gilbert MTP, Peng MS, Xiaopeng Qi XP*, Wang GD*, ZhangYP*. Whole-genome sequencing of African dogs provides insights into adaptations against tropical parasites. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2018, 35: 287-298.  IF14.558

2.     Wang MS, Otecko NO, Wang S, Wu DD, Yang MM, Xu Y, Murphy RW, Peng MS*, Zhang YP*. An evolutionary genomic perspective on the breeding of dwarf chickens. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2017, 34:3081-3088. IF14.558

3.     Wang MS, Zeng Y, Wang X, Nie WH, Wang JH, Su WT, Otecko NO, Xiong ZJ, Wang S, Qu KX, Yan SQ, Yang MM, Wang W, Dong Y*, Wu DD*, Zhang YP*. Draft genome of the gayal, Bos frontalis. Giga science,  2017, 6(11):1-7. IF10.644

4.     Zeng L, Ming C, Li Y, Su LY, Su YH, Otecko NO, Liu HQ, Wang MS, Yao YG, Li HP, Wu DD*, Zhang YP*. Rapid evolution of genes involved in learning and energy metabolism for domestication of the laboratory rat. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2017, 34:3148-3153.  IF14.558

5.     Zeng L, Ming C, Li Y, Su LY, Su YH, Otecko NO, Dalecky A, Donnellan S, Aplin K, Liu XH, Song Y, Zhang ZB, Esmailizadeh A, Sohrabi SS, Nanaei HA, Liu HQ,Wang MS, Atteynine SA, Rocamora G, Brescia F, Morand S, Irwin DM, Peng MS, Yao YG, Li HP*, Wu DD*, Zhang YP*. Out of southern East Asia of the brown rat revealed by large scale genome sequencing. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2017, doi:10.1093/molbev/msx276. IF14.558

6.     Li Y, Wang MS, Otecko NO, Wang W, Shi P, Wu DD*, Zhang YP*. Hypoxia potentially promotes Tibetan longevity. Cell Research, 2017, 27(2):302-305.  IF12.393

7.     Yu L*, Wang GD, Ruan J, Chen YB, Yang CP, Cao X, Wu H, Liu YH, Du ZL, Wang XP, Yang J, Cheng SC, Zhong L, Wang L, Wang X, Hu JY, Fang L, Bai B, Wang KL, Yuan N, Wu SF, Li BG, Zhang JG, Yang YQ, Zhang CL, Long YC, Li HS, Yang JY, Irwin DM, Ryder OA, Li Y, Wu CI*, Zhang YP*. Genomic analysis of snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus) identifies genes and processes related to high-altitude adaptation. Nature Genetics. 2016, 48:947.

8.     Li HP, Xiang-Yu JG, Dai GY, Gu ZL, Ming C, Yang ZF, Ryder OA, Li WH*, Fu YX*, Zhang YP*. Large numbers of vertebrates began rapid population decline in the late 19th century. PNAS. 2016, 113:14079-14084.

9.     Shen QK, Sulaiman X, Yao YG, Peng MS*, Zhang YP*. Was ADH1B under Selection in European Populations? Am J Hum Genet. 2016, 99:1217-1219.

10.   Wang GD, Zhai WW, Yang HC, Wang L,  Zhong L, Liu YH, Fan RX, Yin TT, Zhu CL, Poyarkov AD, Irwin DM, Hytonen MK, Lohi H, Wu CI, Savolainen P, and Zhang YP*. Out of southern East Asia: the natural history of domestic dogs across the world. Cell Research. 2016,26:21-33.

11.   Wang GD, Peng MS, Yang HC, Savolainen P, Zhang YP*. Questioning the evidence for a Central Asian domestication origin of dogs. PNAS. 2016, 113:E2554-E2555.

12.   Wang MS, Zhang RW, Su LY, Li Y, Peng MS, Liu HQ, Zeng L, Irwin DM, Du JL, Yao YG, Wu DD*, Zhang YP*. Positive selection rather than relaxation of functional constraint drives the evolution of vision during chicken domestication. Cell Research. 2016, 26: 556-573.

13.   Wang MS, Huo YX, Li Y, Otecko NO, Su LY, Xu HB, Wu SF, Peng MS, Liu HQ, Zeng L, Irwin DM, Yao YG, Wu DD*,  Zhang YP*. Comparative population genomics reveals genetic basis underlying body size of domestic chickens. J Mol Cell Biol. 2016, 8(6):542-552.

14.   Wang GD, Zhai WW, Yang HC, Wang L, Zhong L, Liu YH, Fan RX, Yin TT, Zhu CL, Poyarkov AD, Irwin DM, Hyt？nen MK, Hannes Lohi H, Wu CI, Savolainen P*, Zhang YP*. Out of southern East Asia: the natural history of domestic dogs across the world. Cell Research, 2016, 26:21-33.

15.   Wang MS, Li Y, Peng MS, Zhong L, Wang ZJ, Li QY, Tu XL, Dong Y, Zhu CL, Wang L, Yang MM, Wu SF, Miao YW, Liu JP, Irwin DM, Wang W, Wu DD*, Zhang YP*. Genomic analyses reveal potential independent adaptation to high altitude in Tibetan chickens. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2015, 32:1880-1889.