Show Notes
Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel are talking all things ancient DNA. 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. Panellists Pooja Swali – Research Fellow in Pathogen Genomics, UCL Pontus Skoglund – Group Leader, Ancient Genomics Lab, Francis Crick Institute Adam Rutherford – Lecturer in Biology and Society, UCL Tom Booth – Senior Research Scientist and Archaeologist, Francis Crick Institute Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/ancientDNA. If you have a follow up question about any of the episodes in the series, email us: [email protected] A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. Music by John Biddle © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025
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Professor Brian Cox takes a deeper dive into the science of ancient DNA, with two experts returning to answer more of your questions. How far can we go back in time using DNA? How accurate is ancient DNA when it comes to understanding our past? Why was diversity in DNA vital for the survival of early humans? Do we really share 60% of our genetic code with bananas? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.