Dear all,
The final event in the Grant Museum's fantastic Dino-Devotion Series is
coming up next week. Moving away from the big scaly (or feathery) beasts
from before the meteor struck, we bring our palaeo-passion forward in
time to look at the science of ancient DNA and the mighty mammoth. We
hope that you can make it.
Best wishes
Jack Ashby
Ice Age Park – the
truth about cloning mammoths
Thursday 11th December,
6pm
Darwin Lecture Theatre, Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL
The potential for cloning a dinosaur may still be in the realms of
science fiction, but
what about reviving a more recently extinct animal?
In the world of ancient DNA, woolly mammoths have become the most
intensively
studied member of the ice age megafauna – a group of large mammals which
experienced global extinction around 12 000 years ago.
In this talk, Dr Ian Barnes will discuss the nature of this extinction,
the contribution that modern
molecular genetics has made, and the future potential for recovering the
ice age animals.
Ian Barnes began his research career studying archaeology, having failed
to understand that
the Indiana Jones films were not documentaries. Realising this error, he
again took
career advice from a Steven Spielberg film and moved to working on
ancient DNA.
Over the last 15 years, he has been involved with many of the key ancient
DNA studies of the ice age megafauna, including giant deer, sabre-tooth
cats, short-faced bears and woolly mammoths.
He is now a molecular palaeobiologist at Royal Holloway, University of
London.
Following the talk, join us for a free glass of wine in a private view of
the Museum.
This event is free and there is no need to book.
Dino-Devotion Season
The Dino-Devotion Season at the Grant Museum explores the people and
practices in the strange and exciting world of palaeontology in new and
engaging ways. As well as cutting-edge events about new discoveries on
recent dino-digs, we will be scrutinising what goes on in the often
eccentric mind of a passionate palaeontologist, examining historic
dino-lovers as well as the role modern palaeo-pundits play today, and ask
why the world is so enamoured with dinosaurs and other prehistoric
beasts. What makes dinosaurs so cool, and what does it take to work with
them? Through talks, discussions and a classic film, come and discover
what’s new in this
ancient topic, and investigate the people behind the beasts.
The full programme is available at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/zoology/whats-on#
dino
Learning and Access Manager
Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy
Darwin Building
Department of Biology
University College London
Gower Street
WC1E 6BT
Tel:(+44) 020 7679 2647 (Internal ext. 32647)
Fax:(+44) 020 7679 7096
Email: [log in to unmask]
www.grant.museum.ucl.ac.uk
Opening Times: Monday to Friday
1-5pm
Group visits (Including: schools, colleges, other universities, special
interest groups, researchers, appointments):
Monday to Friday 9am-1pm
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