This years Summer Talks at lunchtime took place every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-2pm in the National Library of Ireland. Our last speaker for this series is

Professor Dan Bradley

Ancient DNA and Irish Origins

Thursday Sept 8th

Time: 1pm

Venue: National Library of Ireland 

Instead of extrapolating the past from modern genetic variation, it is now possible to directly analyse whole genomes from the past using ancient DNA analysis of archaeological bones.  Work on ancient Irish genomes in Trinity College is giving new information on from where and when our ancestors came to this island thousands of years ago and also tells us something about their genetic character and how it compares to that of our modern peoples.

Dan Bradley spent his early years on an Irish farm  After a degree in genetics from Cambridge University and PhD in medical genetics from Trinity College Dublin he subsequently started to work on the genetics of each species present on that farm, including Irish humans, and has done for over 20 years. He holds a Personal Chair in the Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, is a member of the RIA and is the holder of an ERC Advanced Grant.