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Radio National: Using genes to unlock the secrets of Tutankhamen

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An Egyptian sarcophagus
Radio National: Using genes to unlock the secrets of Tutankhamen

SUBJECTS:  History, Science

YEARS:  9–10


Tutankhamen was an Egyptian pharaoh who ascended to the throne in 1333 BC, at the age or nine or ten.

His fame in modern times is due to the discovery of his virtually intact tomb in 1922. Since then, many questions have been asked about his life and ancestry.

Listen to this audio clip to find out how genetic technology and our knowledge of heredity are unlocking fascinating answers to some of these questions about Tutankhamun.

If you like this clip, listen to the full ABC RN documentary by clicking 'Download Audio' on this website.


Things to think about

  1. 1.Have you noticed how the members of some families share common traits such as height, hair colour, ear shape or even disease? How is it possible that these characteristics are passed from one generation to another?
  2. 2.Associate Professor Carsten Pusch describes how he collected DNA samples from the mummies for the purpose of 'genetic fingerprinting'. Why was it important that the DNA samples came from deep within the mummies' bodies?
  3. 3.Among Ancient Egyptian royalty it was not unusual for brothers and sisters to marry. How did Associate Professor Pusch explain why this practice led to the number of diseases and deformities increasing among each generation of Tutankhamen's family?
  4. 4.What does the genetic analysis of Tutankhamen and his family tell us about patterns of inheritance through generations of a family? How does this understanding of inheritance and inbreeding relate to the conservation of species that are on the brink of extinction?



Date of broadcast: 7 Feb 2011


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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