Did anyone catch the name of the geneticist on R4 Today this morning?

[SOT3]

There was a geneticist on Today this morning talking about how he had discovered that his parents weren't actually his real parents when he was in his 60s - I only managed to catch his first name (Paul), and wondered if anyone knows his surname please as I would like to follow his story (he is waiting to discover who his father is).

You can listen again to the programme on BBC Sounds or tweet radio 4 and ask them

Didn't hear it but after a bit of googling sounds like Paul Nurse

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/aug/09/paul-nurse-birth-certificate-not-mothers-name

It was Sir Paul Nurse.

Yes Paul Nurse, there was also a good Rest is Politics ‘leading’ podcast with him recently and he talks a bit about this at the start if you are interested.

I thought this was a story from a few years back?

He's also on a recent episode of the Infinite Monkey Cage where he mentions it.

Fantastic, thank you all so much.

They mentioned another geneticist, Turi King, I think.

Yes, I heard what she had said aswell and thought how wonderful that she is helping him, as one professional to another, on something so personal to him.

I think Turi King was involved in identifying King Richard IIIs remains.

Yep, I led the genetic identification of Richard III's remains.

I've done a podcast about it and about how I found out who his dad was for him. :)
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zfkvp-1526376

@TKingG thank you for the link.

The work you do is so fascinating.

@TKingG if you are the renowned geneticist can I just say, as I mentioned on another thread, that you have a lovely manner and voice as seen when speaking with participants on the tv programme DNA Family Secrets.

Oh that's so kind! Yes, it's me. And yes, I feel a huge a responsibility when helping people on DFS. I so hope we get recommissioned. 😀

I do sometimes think watching the programme that perhaps they are opening a Pandora's box. not all children, sadly, are conceived with love.

On another note I have listened to Sir Paul Nurse's Desert Island Discs, which is an old one with Sue Lawley and he speaks of his childhood and being by far the youngest in the family and "......was probably a mistake."
Little did he know back in 2002 !!!
I hope his parents and Mum lived to see what fantastic achievements he accomplished, how he has helped the human race.
I know they were dead when he found out about his true relationship to them.

It is going to be one of this mysteries. Do have a listen to the podcast. He's so lovely. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zfkvp-1526376

I once gave a talk to hundreds of people and Paul Nurse was in the front row. I forgot my lines and had to stand there for what felt like forever until I remembered. He was very nice about it

😀 Now that I can imagine!

@TKingG the work you do is fascinating. You seem genuinely caring towards the people on the DNA TV show, it must be quite a turbulent and emotional experience for them. If someone had to give me life changing news, I'd choose you!

Oh that's so kind Yes, it's hugely emotional. We're all usually in tears. And I feel a tremendous responsibility to do it in the most caring way possible.

Did he ever look for his father?

Waves at @TKingG - weird seeing someone on here that I know! 😀

But to echo others, you do fabulous work on very sensitive topics - I couldn't do it -and I wouldn't go near certain archaeological projects now after the appalling professional assassination of the archaeologists in that awful Lost King film. I would be terrified they would cast me in a future film as a bumbling idiot whilst I was still trying to earn a living. I was fuming for you all. You probably dodged a bullet there by being cut out of the narrative - mustn't credit the work of female scientists after all!

Yes, I found him for him. Have a listen to the podcast I made with him. :)
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zfkvp-1526376