Turi King

Turi King
King in 2015
Born	Turi Emma King [1] (1969-12-31) 31 December 1969 (age 55) [1] Nottingham, England
Education	Point Grey Secondary School [2]
Alma mater	University of Cambridge (BA) University of Leicester (MSc, PhD)
Known for	Richard III forensic DNA investigation [3] DNA Family Secrets
Awards	Haldane Lecture (2018) [4]
Scientific career
Fields	Genetics Ancient DNA Archaeogenetics Archaeology History [5] [6]
Institutions	University of Bath University of Leicester
Thesis	The relationship between British surnames and Y-chromosomal haplotypes  (2008)
Academic advisors	Alec Jeffreys [7]
Website	www.turiking.co.uk

Turi Emma King (born 31 December 1969) ^[1] is a professor and Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. ^{[5] [8]} She was previously Professor of Public Engagement and Genetics at the University of Leicester. ^[3] In 2012, King led the DNA verification during the exhumation and reburial of Richard III of England. ^[3] In 2025, King led the genetic analysis featured in the Channel 4 documentary Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator, which has been criticised by scientists and science writers as speculative and raised ethical concerns about the use of Hitler's genome in this way. Alongside being an academic, she is also known as a broadcaster, featuring with Stacey Dooley on the BBC Two genealogy series, DNA Family Secrets , ^{[9] [10]} presenting Ancient Murders Unearthed for Sky History ^[11] and hosting the podcast Head Number 7 for Wondery. ^[12]

Early life and education

King was born in Nottingham, England, as the eldest of three children born to Alan King, an engineer, and Daphne King, a housewife. ^[13] King is named after Norwegian aviator Turi Widerøe, the first woman to fly for a Western airline. ^[14]

She moved to Canada at an early age and was brought up in Vancouver, British Columbia. She was educated at Point Grey Secondary School ^[2] and worked on archaeological sites in Canada, Greece, and England, ^[15] before studying at the University of Cambridge where she was an undergraduate student at Jesus College, Cambridge ^[13] reading Archaeology and Anthropology. ^[16] She was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996. ^{[2] [17]} She won a scholarship to study for a Master of Science degree in Molecular Genetics at the University of Leicester, gaining a First with Distinction. ^[18]

In 2000, she started her doctoral research as a Wellcome Trust Prize Student at the University of Leicester, specialising in genetic genealogy and "in tracing migration patterns by using genetics." ^[13] Alec Jeffreys, the inventor of DNA fingerprinting, served on her PhD supervisory panel. ^[19]

Her thesis on the relationship between British surnames and Y-chromosomal haplotypes ^{[20] [21]} was published in 2007, and eventually formed the basis of the book Surnames, DNA and Family History, which she co-authored with David Hey and George Redmonds. ^{[22] [6] [23]}

Career and research

King working in the laboratory

King's research initially centered around genetics, genetic genealogy, forensics, and surnames, and using aspects of human DNA such as the Y chromosome to track past human migrations. ^{[15] [24] [25]} Her work has included tracing "the signal of the Viking migration to the north of England", resulting in her appearance in Michael Wood's The Great British Story – A People's History on BBC Two, ^[21] and in Michael Wood's Story of England . ^[26]

In 2012, she led the genetic analysis and verification during the exhumation and reburial of Richard III of England. ^[3] She was able to use the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from direct living descendants of Richard III's sister, Anne of York, one of whom (Michael Ibsen) was traced by British historian John Ashdown-Hill, with a second relative (Wendy Duldig) traced by the University of Leicester team. ^{[27] [28] [3] [29]}

In March 2021, she presented the BBC Radio 4 documentary "Genetics and the longer arm of the law". ^[30]

In 2025, blood from the sofa in Adolf Hitler's study was used by her for genetic testing, but without any peer-reviewing of the results yet. The blood was confirmed to be Hitler's by comparing it to that of a relative. Analysis of the genetic material revealed that he likely suffered from Kallmann syndrome, a genetic disorder that prevents a person from starting or fully completing puberty. Many males with the syndrome have an undescended testicle and 10 percent have a micropenis; most have low testosterone levels. ^[31] Kallmann syndrome has the additional symptom of a total lack of sense of smell or a reduced sense of smell, among other symptoms. ^[32] However, the genetic analysis and its presentation in the Channel 4 documentary Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator have been sharply criticised by several geneticists and science writers as speculative and overly sensational. ^{[33] [34]} A New Scientist commentary, for example, argued that analysing Hitler's DNA for a TV gimmick "tells us nothing useful" and warned against genetic determinism and the over-interpretation of polygenic risk scores in this context. ^[35]

Public speaking and consultancy

As Professor of Public Engagement, King regularly undertakes public speaking at universities, ^[36] schools and public events such as the Cheltenham Science Festival, ^[37] the Moscow Science Festival, ^[38] a Congressional Breakfast on Capitol Hill, ^[39] the Galway Science and Technology Festival, ^[40] and the Queen's Lecture in Berlin. ^[41] She guest-presented the Royal Institution's Christmas Lectures in Japan in 2019 stepping in for Alice Roberts. ^{[42] [43]}

She advises on numerous television programmes and provides genetic expertise to authors such as Patricia Cornwell, ^{[44] [45]} Philippe Sands, ^[46] Edward Glover, and David McKie. ^[47]

King has also appeared in a number of television and radio documentaries as an expert in genetic genealogy, forensics, and/or ancient DNA. ^[48]

Research

The following is a list of projects King is either heading or has been involved with:

• The King's DNA: whole genome sequencing of Richard III ^[15]
• What's in a Name? Applying Patrilineal Surnames to Forensics, Population History, and Genetic Epidemiology ^{[15] [49]}
• HALOGEN (History, Archaeology, Linguistics, Onomastics, and GENetics) ^{[15] [50]}
• The Irish Surnames Project ^[15]
• The Mary Jane Kelly Project, dedicated to confirming the identity of Jack the Ripper's final confirmed victim. ^{[15] [51]}

TV, video and radio appearances

King has appeared in numerous television and radio documentaries, programmes and videos as well as advising on television and radio productions such as BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? ^[52]

• Presented the series Ancient Murders Unearthed for Sky History. ^[53]
• Presented the BBC Radio 4 documentary: Genetics and the longer arm of the law ^[30]
• Guest on The Life Scientific as DNA Detective Turi King
• Britain's Lost Battlefields with Rob Bell ^[54]
• Richard III: The King in the Car Park ^[55]
• Britain's Secret Treasures ^[56]
• Richard III: Solving a 500 Year Old Cold Case (TEDx Leicester) ^[57]
• Richard III – The DNA Analysis & Conclusion (University of Leicester) ^[58]
• Richard III: The Resolution of A 500-Year-Old Cold Case (Irving K. Barber Learning Centre Lecture, UBC) ^[59]
• Head Number 7 for Wondery ^[12]

DNA Family Secrets

DNA Family Secrets is a television series which began airing on BBC Two in March 2021, ^[9] presented by Stacey Dooley and King, it uses current DNA technology to solve family mysteries around ancestry, missing relatives and genetic disease. Series three aired in 2023. ^[60]

Awards and honours

In 2016, King was appointed an honorary Fellow of the British Science Association in recognition of her contribution to public engagement in science. ^[61] She gave the J. B. S. Haldane prize lecture of The Genetics Society in 2018, at the Royal Institution, London. ^[4] She served as president of the Adelphi Genetics Forum, formerly the Galton Institute, from 2020 to 2022. ^{[62] [63]}

Personal life

King is married. ^{[64] [65]}

References

1. Anon (2010). "Turi Emma KING". companieshouse.gov.uk. London: Companies House. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018.
2. Turi King on LinkedIn
3. Turi King; Gloria Gonzalez Fortes; Patricia Balaresque; et al. (2 December 2014). "Identification of the remains of King Richard III". Nature Communications . 5: 5631. Bibcode:2014NatCo...5.5631K. doi:10.1038/NCOMMS6631. ISSN   2041-1723. PMC   4268703 . PMID   25463651. Wikidata   Q28253021.
4. "JBS Haldane Lecture 2018 - Turi King - Genetics Society". Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
5. Turi King publications indexed by Google Scholar
6. King, Turi E.; Jobling, Mark A. (2009). "What's in a name? Y chromosomes, surnames and the genetic genealogy revolution". Trends in Genetics. 25 (8): 351–360. doi:10.1016/j.tig.2009.06.003. hdl: 2381/8106 . ISSN   0168-9525. PMID   19665817.
7. "The DNA of a King: Dr Turi King on the genome sequencing of Richard III - Culture24". culture24.org.uk. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
8. "Professor Turi King to be the next Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution". bath.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
9. "DNA Family Secrets". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
10. "Minnow Films". minnowfilms.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
11. "Ancient Murders Unearthed". Sky HISTORY TV channel. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
12. "Head Number 7". Wondery | Premium Podcasts. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
13. Waldie, Paul (5 February 2013). "Two Canadian links to Richard III". theglobeandmail.com. Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
14. "Twitter".
15. Anon (2015). "Prof Turi King". le.ac.uk. University of Leicester. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
16. "Washington, DC: Cambridge Society of Washington DC Lecture on King Richard III".
17. "About – Turi King".
18. "Turi King". Archaeological Institute of America Stanford Society. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
19. Solving a 500 Year Old Cold Case - with Turi King, 20 March 2019, retrieved 4 July 2021
20. King, Turi Emma (2007). The relationship between British surnames and Y-chromosomal haplotypes. le.ac.uk (PhD thesis). University of Leicester. OCLC   505387627. EThOS   uk.bl.ethos.484806. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
21. "The Great British Story: A People's History. Dr. Turi King". BBC Two . Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
22. "Surnames, DNA, and Family History | George Redmonds | 9780198736486 | Oxford University Press Canada". oupcanada.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
23. Redmonds, George; King, Turi; Hey, David (2011). Surnames, DNA, and Family History. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19958-264-8. Archived from the original on 30 December 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
24. Turi King publications indexed by the Scopus bibliographic database. (subscription required)
25. Turi King publications from Europe PubMed Central
26. "Turi King". Richard III Society. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
27. "Dr Turi King – genetic analysis". The Discovery of Richard III. University of Leicester. Archived from the original on 15 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
28. "Richard III: a 'car park king' timeline". History Extra. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
29. "Living relatives | Richard III: Discovery and identification". University of Leicester. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
30. "BBC Radio 4 - Genetics and the longer arm of the law". BBC. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
31. Oltermann, Philip (13 November 2025). "Did Hitler really have a 'micropenis'? The dubious documentary analysing the dictator's DNA". theguardian.com. The Guardian . Retrieved 14 November 2025.
32. Boehm U, Bouloux PM, Dattani MT, de Roux N, Dodé C, Dunkel L, Dwyer AA, Giacobini P, Hardelin JP, Juul A, Maghnie M, Pitteloud N, Prevot V, Raivio T, Tena-Sempere M, Quinton R, Young J (September 2015). "Expert consensus document: European Consensus Statement on congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism--pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment". Nature Reviews. Endocrinology. 11 (9): 547–64. doi: 10.1038/nrendo.2015.112 . hdl: 11567/821921 . PMID   26194704.
33. Oltermann, Philip (13 November 2025). "Did Hitler really have a 'micropenis'? The dubious documentary analysing the dictator's DNA". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 27 November 2025.
34. "Hitler's DNA and the dire wolf". Chemical & Engineering News. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
35. Le Page, Michael (November 2025). "Analysing Hitler's DNA for a TV gimmick tells us nothing useful". New Scientist. 268 (3570): 10. doi:10.1016/s0262-4079(25)01889-5. ISSN   0262-4079.
36. "Institute for Genealogical Studies established at Strathclyde". University of Strathclyde. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
37. "The Times Cheltenham Science Festival 2015". Issuu. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
38. Фестиваль NAUKA 0+ Archived 2019-12-05 at the Wayback Machine www.mos.ru. 7 October 2016
39. Hall, Lynsey (January 2018). "JBS Haldane Lecture" (PDF). Genetics Society News. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
40. "Solve the 500 Year Old Mystery of Richard III". galwayscience.ie. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
41. "Queen's Lecture 2016". TU Berlin (in German). 1 November 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
42. "Royal Institution Blog".
43. "Who Am I? — 2019 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures at Tokyo Tech". Tokyo Institute of Technology (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 April 2021.
44. "University of Leicester scientist lends expertise to new Jack the Ripper book". University of Leicester. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
45. "The Mary Jane Kelly Project". University of Leicester. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
46. "Philippe sands east west street wn 2016". Issuu. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
47. Leith, Sam (28 August 2013). "What's in a Surname? A Journey from Abercrombie to Zwicker by David McKie – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
48. "Inside Science: Orion Launch; Fake Mars trip; XDNA; Richard the Third's skeleton". BBC Radio 4 . 4 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
49. "What's in a name? Applying patrilineal surnames to forensics, population history and genetic epidemiology". le.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
50. "Impact of Diasporas on the Making of Britain: HALOGEN". University of Leicester. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
51. "The Mary Jane Kelly Project — University of Leicester". le.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
52. Turi King at IMDb  
53. "Ancient Murders Unearthed". Sky HISTORY TV channel. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
54. Britain's Lost Battlefields with Rob Bell (TV Mini Series 2020) - IMDb , retrieved 30 August 2021
55. Osmond, Louise; Woods, Pete (4 February 2013). Richard III: The King in the Car Park (TV movie). UK: Darlow Smithson Productions, Channel 4 Television Corporation. tt2677712 at IMDb .
56. Britain's Secret Treasures (TV Series 2012– ) - IMDb , retrieved 30 August 2021
57. TEDx Leicester Richard III: Solving a 500 Year Old Cold Case (Webcast). Leicester: TEDx Leicester. 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
58. Richard III – The DNA Analysis & Conclusion (Webcast). Leicester: University of Leicester. 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 16 December 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
59. Irving K. Barber Learning Centre Lecture, UBC. Richard III: The Resolution of A 500-Year-Old Cold Case (Webcast). Vancouver: UBC. 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
60. "BBC Two - DNA Family Secrets". BBC. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
61. "2016 Honorary Fellows revealed". britishscienceassociation.org. British Science Association. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
62. "President of the Galton Institute" (PDF). The Galton Review. No. 13. Galton Institute. Summer 2020. ISSN   2397-9917 . Retrieved 12 October 2025.
63. "Past Presidents". Adelphi Genetics Forum . Retrieved 12 October 2025.
64. Taylor, Emily (n.d.). "Identifying Richard III – an interview with Dr Turi King". The Post Hole. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2025. My husband didn't even know the results ...
65. "Uncovering History and Identity: Turi King on DNA, Mysteries, and Forensic Science". Ishi News. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.

Selected bibliography

• Scully, Marc; Brown, Steven D.; King, Turi (2015). "Becoming a Viking: DNA testing, genetic ancestry and placeholder identity". Ethnic and Racial Studies (Submitted manuscript). 39 (2): 162–180. doi:10.1080/01419870.2016.1105991. hdl: 2381/33336 . S2CID   55505069.
• Appleby, Jo; Rutty, Guy N.; Hainsworth, Sarah V.; Woosnam-Savage, Robert C.; Morgan, Bruno; Brough, Alison; Earp, Richard W.; Robinson, Claire; King, Turi E.; Morris, Mathew; Buckley, Richard (2015). "Perimortem trauma in King Richard III: A skeletal analysis". The Lancet. 385 (9964): 253–259. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60804-7. hdl: 2381/33280 . PMID   25238931. S2CID   13248948.
• Bowden, G. R.; Balaresque, P.; King, T. E.; Hansen, Z.; Lee, A. C.; Pergl-Wilson, G.; Hurley, E.; Roberts, S. J.; Waite, P.; Jesch, J.; Jones, A. L.; Thomas, M. G.; Harding, S. E.; Jobling, M. A. (2008). "Excavating Past Population Structures by Surname-Based Sampling: The Genetic Legacy of the Vikings in Northwest England". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 25 (2): 301–309. doi:10.1093/molbev/msm255. PMC   2628767 . PMID   18032405.
• Balaresque, Patricia; Bowden, Georgina R.; Adams, Susan M.; Leung, Ho-Yee; King, Turi E.; Rosser, Zoë H.; Goodwin, Jane; Moisan, Jean-Paul; Richard, Christelle; Millward, Ann; Demaine, Andrew G.; Barbujani, Guido; Previderè, Carlo; Wilson, Ian J.; Tyler-Smith, Chris; Jobling, Mark A. (2010). "A Predominantly Neolithic Origin for European Paternal Lineages". PLOS Biology. 8 (1) e1000285. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000285 . PMC   2799514 . PMID   20087410.
• Hallast, P.; Batini, C.; Zadik, D.; Maisano Delser, P.; Wetton, J. H.; Arroyo-Pardo, E.; Cavalleri, G. L.; De Knijff, P.; Destro Bisol, G.; Dupuy, B. M.; Eriksen, H. A.; Jorde, L. B.; King, T. E.; Larmuseau, M. H.; Lopez De Munain, A.; Lopez-Parra, A. M.; Loutradis, A.; Milasin, J.; Novelletto, A.; Pamjav, H.; Sajantila, A.; Schempp, W.; Sears, M.; Tolun, A.; Tyler-Smith, C.; Van Geystelen, A.; Watkins, S.; Winney, B.; Jobling, M. A. (2014). "The Y-Chromosome Tree Bursts into Leaf: 13,000 High-Confidence SNPs Covering the Majority of Known Clades". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 32 (3): 661–673. doi:10.1093/molbev/msu327. PMC   4327154 . PMID   25468874.
• King, Turi (2014). "What can Genetics Tell us about Vikings in the Wirral and West Lancashire?". In Harding, Stephen E.; Griffiths, David; Royles, Elizabeth (eds.). In Search of Vikings: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Scandinavian Heritage of North-West England. CRC Press. pp. 165–78. ISBN   978-1-4822-0759-0.