Ya-ping was educated at Fudan University and Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He is a professor of KIZ, CAS; vice president, CAS; honorary president, Yunnan University; president, Chinese Society of Genetics. His awards include Prizes for Young Scientists of China; Science and Technology Prizes for Youth in China; Qiu Shi Science and Technologies Prizes for Outstanding Young Scientists, Hong Kong; Natural Science Prizes of China, Second Grade; Biodiversity Leadership Awards, Bay and Paul Foundations, USA; May 4th Youth Medal of China; Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize for Science and Technology, Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation; Natural Science Prizes of China, Second Grade; and Cheung Kong Scholars Achievement Award, Ministry of Education of China, and Li Ka Shing Foundation. He is a member of CAS.