Ludovic Orlando

Join asteroid specialist Sarah Russell, who studies interstellar dust, paleo geneticist Ludovic Orlando, who researches horse domestication, and epidemiologist Katerina Laporta, who examines historical rumor spread. They discuss the fascinating parallels between the spread of fear during the French Revolution and modern-day events, revealing how citizen militias shaped revolutionary ideas. Furthermore, uncover the genetic evolution of horses and the cosmic origins of asteroids like Bennu, highlighting the connection between our ancient past and current scientific endeavors.

Ludovic Orlando, a CNRS Silver Medal-winning researcher and director at the Centre for Anthropobiology in Toulouse, dives into the fascinating world of horse genetics. He reveals that modern horses originated about 4,200 years ago in the southwestern Russian steppe, challenging previous theories with genetic evidence. Ludovic also discusses the influence of Arabian horses, the historical significance of mules, and the impact of inbreeding on horse health. Plus, he shares insights on future technologies like genomic editing in equine breeding.

Ludovic Orlando, a leading genetics researcher and director at the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse, dives into the fascinating world of horse domestication. He reveals the origins of modern horses around 4,200 years ago in the Eurasian steppe and discusses the Botai culture's early but unsuccessful domestication attempts. With insights on the spread of domestic horses and the emergence of the Arabian breed, he also addresses the surprising decline in horse genetic diversity and the future of equine genetics through cloning and gene editing.