Who Are Our Ancestors And Why Does It Matter?

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: aquestionofscience@bbc.co.uk

A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute.

Music by John Biddle

© BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025

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