Cheddar Man DNA Secrets ~ with DR SELINA BRACE

He is 10,000 years old. The oldest complete skeleton found in Britain. But who was Cheddar Man, what did he look like, and how did he live?

DR SELINA BRACE is a biologist who works with ancient and degraded DNA, investigating species-level and evolutionary processes. She is a researcher in the Earth Sciences Department and also manages the ancient DNA laboratory at the Natural History Museum in London, UK.

MARK from Evolution Soup talks in depth with Selina about the Cheddar Man discovery, the newest and most updated information about him... and what the DNA extracted from the bones reveal.

00:00 START
01:52 Selina's Background
03:19 Cheddar Man Discovery
06:41 Cheddar Man History
10:28 Cannibals
14:36 Ancient DNA Techniques
23:37 Cheddar Man DNA
32:17 Dark Skin & Geography
37:27 Light Skin Evolution
40:28 Future Projects

LINKS FOR SELINA BRACE:

SPECIAL THANKS to amazing paleo artist ETTORE MAZZA for providing unique artwork for this interview!
LINKS:

ALSO: Julio Lacerda

#evolutionsoup #evolution #paleo #paleontology #paleoartist #Homosapiens #hominid #artwork #Darwin #cave #bone #fossils #Neanderthal #australopithecus #hominin #extinct #animals #science #anthropology #paleoanthropology #genus #species #africa #skull #skulls #naturalselection #lucy #paleontology #dna #cheddarman
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[conner.c]

Amazing interview, it blows my mind how in two decades we have been able to sequence ancient DNA to the extent of certifying that it truly comes from ancient times. Also the explanation of how those populations from ancient Britain survived even though they had this particular trait not so common at higher latitudes makes me wonder how complex (beautiful and elegant) is the evolution process and natural selection. Thank you Mark and Selina.

[oakstrong]

I stumbled on this video by accident
I am casually interested in evolution, especially human one, and ancient & modern cultures anyway, but Dr Brace make the topic sound so interesting and as approachable as she is herself! She is the kind of educator that had she been my teacher I might have chosen to study some biology related science. I would definitely love to hear her talk about her other projects!

[kurtoogle]

Dr. Brace is so good at explaining this material! Really interesting! Thank you!

[amandajstar]

I love the information, but also, as a bonus, Dr Selina Brace seems so very delightful as a person.

[MikePhilbin]

Dear Evol-Soup, thanks for this... genius idea to interview her in her boat during the last lockdown, it has to be THE MOST RELAXED and HAPPIEST interview I've ever seen with this charming geneticist, and good luck sequencing THE CANNIBALS. :)

[patrik]

I know that Tasmanian aborigines lived there for 40K years and they were very dark skinned, even though Tasmania is in a temperate climate (a subarctic climate during the last Ice Age). Just like Cheddar Man and other WHGs, they had diets heavy in red meat and seafood. Would also be interesting to look for vitamin D enhancing genes in their DNA.

[krisbelenky]

What an amazing woman. She can explain such complex matters in terms anyone can understand. Genetics are fascinating.

[Egyptologist]

On PCA Cheddar Man clusters with ancient and modern Europeans. He had nothing to do with "black Africans" genetically, anthropologically nor geographically. The idea that he was "black" was dismissed by the scientists themselves in a news article.

[bobaldo]

I just want to point out that elevation above sea level is very important re the amount of UV rays people experience. You can live very far removed either N or S of the equator, but at higher elevations, and receive a very large amount of UV. I lived at 8, 600 feet for 25 years in the US SW, and can tell you the UV was strong. Now think of the Tibetan Plateau at 15, ooo feet.

[DreamerBooksAnIceAgeSaga]

Thanks for a great interview! I've watched this before, but had to come back for another viewing!

[castirac]

Amazing Explanation of the genetic facts, even for an non-english-speaker. Thank you and Dr. Brace.

[CrueMagnon]

The excitement that she has over her knowledge in her professional field makes this more intriguing to watch. Great job!

[realityhelix]

"Ancient Cannibal Expert" is one of those job descriptions that is probably a lot less exciting than it initially sounds. Probably not much more than looking at little bone fragments, but also, you get to tell people that's what your job is.

[danieldonegan]

Thank you both for that unusually interesting interview/study BRILLIANT !. Dr Selina Brace you have the love of your subject in your DNA, i look forward to your next interview.

[tmcb]

Ironic for Cheddar man to be lactose intolerant.

[ducs]

Making cups out of skulls might just have been a practical matter. A handy cup for people who aren't firing clay pots.

[mariongranbruheim]

11:56 If the island was uninhabitable due to cold and other unpleasantnesses, it’s not hard to imagine that a klan might have faced the choice between starving to death or eating the deceased as a solution in an emergency.

[jamestodd]

Just wonderful. To be able to hear the actual DNA specialist for Chedder man should put any of the controversy about skin color to rest. Ancient humans and DNA is endlessly fascinating. Thank you.

[jean-pierredevent]

Visiting Malta, I thought those who built those famous temples there, were probably very different in culture and mind set than present Europeans but these temples seem to young to be the work of Cheddar man like people.

[idio-syncrasy]

Amazing person. Her students are lucky. Really interesting and a great communicator.