Newgrange: Neolithic Bloodlines
DNA has been used to confirm the existence of an elite social class in the Stone Age Ireland, similar to those found among the pharaohs of ancient Egypt and the "god-kings" of South America's Inca Empire.
A key piece of evidence comes from an adult male buried at the 5,000-year-old Newgrange monument in Co. Meath, Ireland. The team headed up by Dr Lara Cassidy were able to extract DNA from the petrous bone of the ancient corpse, a dense part of the inner ear. Ancient DNA is only preserved well in the body's densest bones, making the petrous portion an ideal extraction point.
By sampling the hard-rock bone using a grinder they were able to place the bone shavings in a solution that releases DNA from the bone; allowing them to sequence the entire ancient human genome. After sampling 44 whole genomes, they were able to reveal that the adult man's parents were first-degree relatives - brother and sister or parent and child. Evidence of incestuous unions like that found at Newgrange is rare in human history; they are taboo for interlinked biological and cultural reasons. Where they do occur, it is often within royal dynasties that have been granted divine status. Brother-sister or parent and child marriages paired with the construction of extravagant monuments are usually indicators of a royal lineage, similar to Tutankhamun's parents who are thought to have been full siblings. And with Newgrange being older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza, the fact the man's remains were laid in a richly decorated recess in the inner chamber, suggests he was one member of an expansive ‘clan' that were buried at impressive stone monuments across Ireland.
Trailer
Recently Updated Shows
Murdoch Mysteries
Set in Toronto at the dawn of the 20th century, Murdoch Mysteries is a one-hour drama series that explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch, a methodical and dashing detective who pioneers innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders. Murdoch's colleagues include the love of his life, coroner and psychiatrist Dr. Julia Ogden, a staunch ally who shares the detective's fascination for science; Constable George Crabtree, Murdoch's eager but sometimes naïve right-hand man; Inspector Brackenreid, Murdoch's skeptical yet reluctantly supportive boss; and coroner Dr. Emily Grace, Dr. Ogden's protégé.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds follows Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock and Number One in the decade before Captain Kirk boarded the U.S.S. Enterprise, as they explore new worlds around the galaxy.
Murder in a Small Town
Karl Alberg moves to a quiet coastal town to soothe a psyche that has been battered by big-city police work. But this gentle paradise has more than its share of secrets, and Karl will need to call upon all the skills that made him a world-class detective in solving the murders that, even in this seemingly idyllic setting, continue to wash up on his shore.
Sheriff Country
Sheriff Country focuses on straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire's division chief Sharon Leone, who investigates criminal activity as she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater while contending with her ex-con father, Wes, who is an off-the-grid marijuana grower, and a mysterious incident involving her wayward daughter.