突变速率是进化生物学研究中的一个非常重要的参数，没有可靠的突变速率估计值常常成为探讨普遍规律和机制的限制性因素。本项目拟通过对父本未知的两个野生东亚钳蝎家系的高覆盖度的基因组重测序，以及对数据的统计分析，计算在子代中出现的母源突变数目，测定东亚钳蝎的基因组水平的平均突变率，并建立一个适用于缺乏父本情况下的突变率估计新方法，编写一个进行关键统计分析即子代变异溯源分析的软件。

Mutation rate is a very important parameter in evolutionary studies. The unavailability of reliable mutation rate often becomes the limiting factor for addressing the underlying general rules and mechanisms for evolution. Here in this project, we intend to directly measure nuclear DNA mutation rate of the Chinese scorpion Mesobuthus martensii by high coverage genome resequencing of two independent scorpion families from natural population in which the male parents are unknown. We will establish a novel method that allows to reliably count newly arisen mutations of maternal origin in the offspring, which will thus permit the calculation of mutation rate from mother to her offspring in the scorpion families. A computer program will be developed to automate the essential procedure of tracing the origins of mutations in the offspring.