Behind the Science with Zoologist and Curator of "Bison: Standing Strong" Dr. Melissa Hawkins and Genomics Researcher Dr. Sarah Johnson
About
“Bison Bones and Genomes” For millennia, bison roamed the North American continent unimpeded. Numbering in the tens of millions, their presence on the Great Plains allowed the grassland ecosystems to thrive. However, over a few decades at the end of the 19th century, bison nearly went extinct with less than 1,000 animals remaining, irrevocably altering the genetic landscape of this species. Smithsonian scientists are now extracting DNA from skeletal remains collected from across the continent throughout the 19th and 20th centuries to quantify just how much genetic diversity was lost during the population crash and what it might mean for conservation efforts in the future. This month, go behind the science with two NMNH researchers, Dr. Melissa (Missy) Hawkins , zoologist and curator of the “Bison: Standing Strong” exhibit, and Dr. Sarah Johnson , a postdoctoral research fellow at the museum, who are working together to analyze DNA from these historic specimens. Read more about their work in this Smithsonian Magazine article . Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis. Image credit: Phillip Lee, Smithsonian Institution ---------------- About the Series: Behind the Science A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers Each month, join the National Museum of Natural History for the new series, Behind the Science , where NMNH researchers share insights into their latest discoveries and explore the fascinating questions
