Who are our ancestors and why does it matter?
Over the past 50 years, new technology has allowed researchers to sequence and study centuries-old DNA taken from ancient, long-buried human remains.
This new insight into our past has led to a whole new understanding of our ancestors, from our migration across the globe, to the environmental changes we’ve experienced, and even the spread of ancient deadly pandemics like the black plague. Our panel of scientists answers questions from a studio audience about the usefulness of commercial DNA tests, the true meaning of ancestry, and what our ancient genetic material could reveal about our future.
Tom Booth, currently working part-time at the UCL Institute of Archaeology as an Associate Lecturer (Teaching) in Quantitative Archaeology and Later European Prehistory, was invited to participate in this new series of podcasts with Prof Brian Cox with an episode concerning why ancient DNA matters.
The podcast series is a joint initiative between The Francis Crick Institute (where Tom is also based as a Senior Laboratory Research Scientist) and the BBC Science Unit.
Watch on YouTube
You can also access the podcast here
Image (top): Pooja Swali, Pontus Skoglund, Brian Cox, Adam Rutherford and Tom Booth at a recording of the podcast, 'A Question of Science'.
Image (bottom): Brian Cox, Adam Rutherford and Tom Booth at a recording of the podcast, 'A Question of Science'.
Images courtesy and copyright of Michael Bowles | The Francis Crick Institute.