Ryan Parr has a PhD in biological anthropology from the University of Utah and is currently vice president of Research and Development at Genesis Genomics, a Canadian biotechnical company exploring the use of mitochondrial DNA as a “biosensor� for the early detection of prostate and breast cancer. He has authored and coauthored mitochondrial DNA studies of Native Americans, specializing in ancient DNA. One of his previous projects involved the DNA sequencing of Egyptian mummies found at the Dakhleh Oasis. Another major project was the use of mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the Unknown Child from the 1912 RMS Titanic disaster.