<p>How can ancient DNA help us understand how diseases spread? This month, geneticist and pathogen genomics expert <strong>Pooja Swali</strong> explains how samples of DNA from the past can reveal how diseases have spread across the world over time. We explore the what, where, how, and why of ancient DNA research, and what doors these questions have opened for the future of the field. Pooja has worked extensively on Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for plague, and uncovered the existence of plague thousands of years earlier than previously anticipated. </p><br><p>Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Book tickets to&nbsp;upcoming talks on&nbsp;our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rigb.org/whats-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Subscribe to&nbsp;our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheRoyalInstitution" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Follow us:&nbsp;@ri_science on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ri_science/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ri_science" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a>&nbsp;</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Producer and presenter: Lia Hale</p><p>Music: Joseph Sandy&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>