Dr. Hendrik Poinar

Dr. Hendrik Poinar is an evolutionary biologist who has built a career around the study of ancient DNA. He currently serves as the director of the Ancient DNA Centre at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he also holds a professorship. Dr. Poinar's research has been instrumental in the extraction and analysis of DNA from ancient remains, creating a deeper understanding of extinct species and their impact on our current world.

Notably, Dr. Poinar was the first to extract DNA sequences from ground sloth coprolites, publishing genetic sequences isolated from the coprolites of the extinct Shasta giant ground sloth. This pioneering work has opened the door for further research into extinct species such as the woolly mammoth and the Neanderthal. In particular, Dr. Poinar's laboratory has illustrated that the Siberian mammoth population had been completely replaced by mammoths of North American origin.

One of Dr. Poinar's substantial contributions to the scientific community includes publishing the first genomic data from victims of the Plague of Justinian in Bavaria. His research demonstrated that this plague was caused by a now-extinct strain of Yersinia pestis. His work has not only been shared in numerous scientific journals but has also been featured in several documentaries and media outlets.