You Carry Ancient DNA: Here’s What It Reveals About You Spotify 20 [qZ0acrexI0D]

What does ancient DNA reveal about who we are today?

Nobel Prizewinning geneticist Svante Pbo joins the Museum of Science to explore the astonishing story written in our genomes, one that traces modern humans back through time to Neanderthals, Denisovans, and long-lost relatives who still live on in our DNA. From sequencing the first Neanderthal genome to discovering new branches of the human family tree, Pbos groundbreaking work shows that human evolution was anything but a straight marie-lyne joncas line.

In this in-depth conversation, Pbo unpacks how ancient interbreeding shaped our biology, health, and migration patterns. We also discuss why his discoveries challenge what we thought we knew about being human. You'll hear about the tools of paleogenetics, the ethics of ancient DNA research, and how fragments of extinct hominin 90 day fiance DNA can influence traits like disease resistance, pain sensitivity, and even our immune response to viruses like COVID-19. This is a powerful look at the science that connects our past and present.

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Chapters:

00:00 The Call

01:30 Ancient DNA

04:30 Neanderthals

08:00 Denisovans

11:30 Mixed Ancestry

15:00 Life in the Caves

19:00 Reconstructing the Genome

23:00 DNA Preservation

27:00 Contamination & Controls

31:00 Functional Genetics

36:00 Health Impacts

42:00 What Makes Us Human

48:00 Legacy & Whats Next

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Svante Pbo is a Nobel Prizewinning geneticist who pioneered the field of paleogenetics. As the founding director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, he led the team that successfully sequenced the Neanderthal genome a breakthrough that revealed modern humans still carry DNA from Neanderthals and Denisovans. With a career that bridges genetics, anthropology, and evolutionary biology, Pbo has transformed how we understand human origins, identity, and adaptation. His work has uncovered genetic links to disease resistance, brain function, and pain perception, showing how ancient DNA continues to shape our lives today. Through decades of meticulous research and innovation, he remains a leading voice in decoding what makes us uniquely human.

Among the world's largest science centers, the Museum of Science engages millions of people each year to the wonders of science and technology through interactive exhibitions, digital programs, giant screen productions, and preK 12 EiE STEM curricula through the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center. Established in 1830, the Museum is home to such iconic experiences as the Theater of Electricity, the Charles Hayden Planetarium, and the Mugar Omni Theater. Around the world, the Museum is known for digital experiences such as Mission: Mars on Roblox, and traveling exhibitions such as the Science Behind Pixar. Learn more at

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