Bryan Sykes

For the judge, see Bryan Sykes (judge).

Bryan Sykes
Born
Bryan Clifford Sykes

(1947-09-09)9 September 1947
Died10 December 2020(2020-12-10) (aged 73)
EducationEltham College
Liverpool University (B.Sc.)
Bristol University (Ph.D.)
Known forThe Seven Daughters of Eve; analysis of mitochondrial and Y chromosome data
Scientific career
FieldsGenetics
InstitutionsWolfson College, Oxford
University of Oxford (D. Sc.)

Bryan Clifford Sykes (9 September 1947 – 10 December 2020) was a British geneticist and science writer who was a Fellow of Wolfson College and Emeritus Professor of human genetics at the University of Oxford.[1][2]

Sykes published the first report on retrieving DNA from ancient bone (Nature, 1989). He was involved in a number of high-profile cases dealing with ancient DNA, including that of Ötzi the Iceman. He also suggested a Florida accountant by the name of Tom Robinson was a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, a claim that was subsequently disproved.[3][4][5][6]

Sykes is best known outside the community of geneticists for his two popular books on the investigation of human history and prehistory through studies of mitochondrial DNA.

  1. ^ Leake, J. Scientist savaged for bigfoot claim Sunday Times, 29 March 2015.
  2. ^ Debrett's People of Today Archived 11 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine Debrett's People of Today. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. ^ Tom Robinson (16 June 2006), Genghis Khan or Not? That is the Question (Internet Archive version)., Self published, archived from the original on 13 December 2006, retrieved 31 January 2013
  4. ^ Matching Genghis Khan, familytreedna.com, archived from the original on 8 March 2009, retrieved 3 June 2008
  5. ^ Henderson, Mark (30 May 2006), "How I am related to Genghis Khan", The Times, London, archived from the original on 15 April 2015, retrieved 27 April 2010
  6. ^ Nicholas Wade. Falling from Genghis's family tree Archived 9 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times, 21 June 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2013.