A NOVA, UW-Madison connection

January 9, 2013 Erik Ernst Leave a Comment

Each Wednesday, NOVA takes us around the globe to uncover new scientific discoveries and to unlock the many secrets the world still holds.

This week’s episode takes us back in time, with a quick stop at the University of Wisconsin-Madison along the way. In “Decoding Neanderthals,” which premieres at 8 Wednesday, Jan. 9 on Wisconsin Public Television, UW-Madison anthropology professor John Hawks and his students play a key role in tying together the genetic links between ancient Neanderthals and modern humans.

This UW-Madison News article outlines the experience last year when NOVA producers visited Hawks’ lab to learn about suspected Neanderthal genes that can still be traced in modern humans. Six of Hawks’ students helped test a theory that Neanderthals might have bred with some early humans more than 60,000 years ago. The results of their tests and the possible conclusions that can be drawn will be part of the new episode.

Two years ago, Hawks sat down with Norman Gilliland to discuss his work on an episode of WPT’s University Place series. Watch that interview below to prepare for the new NOVA. Then, watch a trailer for “Decoding Neanderthals.”

Watch Neanderthals Are Us – Ep. 460 on PBS. See more from University Place.

Watch Decoding Neanderthals Preview on PBS. See more from NOVA.

Film video University of Wisconsin-Madison University Place public television Wisconsin Public Television Program Schedule Wisconsin UW Madison NOVA

1 thought on “A NOVA, UW-Madison connection”

Paul Levinson says:

January 28, 2013 at 8:41 pm

I thought Decoding Neanderthals was excellent and overdue. I explored some of the same issues in a 1999 science novel, The Silk Code http://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2012/08/authors-cut-kindle-edition-of-silk-code.html

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