Ziheng Yang facts for kids

Ziheng Yang FRS (Chinese: 杨子恒; born 1 November 1964) is a Chinese biologist. He is a top expert in how living things change over time, especially at the DNA level. He works at University College London in the UK. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a big honor for scientists.

Dr. Yang's Journey in Science

Early Life and Education

Ziheng Yang was born in China on November 1, 1964. He loved learning about living things from a young age. He went to Gansu Agricultural University and earned his first degree in 1984. Later, he studied at Beijing Agricultural University, where he earned his master's degree in 1987 and his PhD in 1992.

Working Around the World

After finishing his PhD, Dr. Yang traveled to many places to do research. He worked in famous universities like the University of Cambridge and Pennsylvania State University. He also spent time at the Natural History Museum in London.

In 1997, he joined University College London (UCL) as a lecturer. He quickly became a professor in 2001. Since 2010, he has held a special position at UCL called the R.A. Fisher Chair in Statistical Genetics. This means he leads important research in how we use math and computers to understand genetics.

Dr. Yang has also been a visiting professor in many countries, including Japan, China, and Switzerland. He even spent time at Harvard University in the United States.

Understanding Evolution with Math

Studying DNA Changes

Dr. Yang is famous for creating new ways to study how DNA changes over time. He uses math and computer programs to understand how different living things are related. His work helps scientists figure out the "family tree" of life, showing how species evolved from common ancestors.

He developed special models that look at how quickly different parts of DNA change. This helps scientists get a more accurate picture of evolution.

Finding Natural Selection in DNA

One of his big achievements was creating the "codon model" with his colleague Nick Goldman in 1994. This model helps scientists study genes that make proteins. It can show if a species is undergoing "natural selection." Natural selection is when helpful changes in DNA become more common because they help an organism survive and reproduce.

Dr. Yang's models can even find specific parts of a protein or certain branches on an evolutionary tree where natural selection has been very active. This helps us understand how living things adapt to their environments.

Reconstructing Ancient DNA

Imagine trying to figure out what the DNA of an ancient animal looked like! In 1995, Dr. Yang created a statistical method to do just that. This method uses math to guess what the DNA of an ancestor might have been. It's more advanced than older methods because it considers how long different evolutionary branches are and how certain we can be about the guesses.

Using Bayesian Statistics

With Bruce Rannala, Dr. Yang brought "Bayesian statistics" into the study of evolution in 1996. Bayesian statistics is a powerful way to use probability to make predictions and understand data. It's now one of the most popular methods for studying how species evolve and are related.

Understanding Species Trees

Dr. Yang and Bruce Rannala also developed a model called the "multispecies coalescent model." This model helps scientists understand how different species are related, even when their individual genes might tell slightly different stories. It's like looking at many family photos to build a complete family tree, rather than just one photo. This model helps identify new species and understand their history.

Computer Programs for Scientists

Dr. Yang also maintains two important computer programs:

• PAML: This program helps scientists analyze DNA using a method called "Maximum Likelihood."
• BPP: This program uses "Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo" to study how species evolve and spread out geographically.

Helping the Scientific Community

Dr. Yang is very active in the scientific world. He has taught at many workshops, helping other scientists learn his methods. He has also helped organize big meetings for scientists, like those at the Royal Society in London. These meetings bring together experts to discuss new ideas in evolution and genetics.

Since 2009, he has helped organize an annual workshop called "Computational Molecular Evolution" (CoME). This workshop teaches students and researchers about the latest tools for studying evolution with computers.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Yang has received many important awards for his amazing work:

• 2023-2025: President of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
• 2023: Darwin–Wallace Medal from the Linnean Society of London. This is a very high honor in biology.
• 2010: Frink Medal for British Zoologists.
• 2006: Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, a prestigious group of top scientists.
• 1995: Young Investigator’s Prize from the American Society of Naturalists.

Books by Dr. Yang

Dr. Yang has also written books to share his knowledge with others.