IYBD at UCL: The treasures of evolution

In this short film, palaeobiologist Dr Anjali Goswami (UCL Genetics, Evolution and Environment and UCL Earth Sciences) explains what we can learn about biodiversity from the collection housed at UCL's Grant Museum of Zoology. Dr Goswami, whose research focuses on mammalian evolution, said the unique specimens at the Grant give us a glimpse into the biology of extinct species and underline the importance of protecting our natural world. The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYBD) ? a chance to celebrate and safeguard the diversity of life on Earth. Biodiversity embraces every every plant, animal and micro-organism, and sustains the ecosystems that provide us with food, fuel, health, wealth, and other vital services. The Grant Museum is the only university zoological museum in London. Founded in 1827, it houses around 62,000 specimens, including many species now endangered or extinct such as the Tasmanian Tiger or Thylacine, the Quagga, and the Dodo.