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. 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, In 2012, she led the
genetic analysis and verification during the
exhumation and reburial of Richard III of England. In March 2021, she presented the
BBC Radio 4 documentary "Genetics and the longer arm of the law".
DNA Family Secrets DNA Family Secrets is a television series which began airing on BBC Two in March 2021,
''Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator'' In 2025, King analyzed blood from the sofa in
Adolf Hitler's study where eyewitnesses reported seeing
his body. The results were not immediately
peer-reviewed, but were the subject of a two-part
Channel 4 documentary titled ''Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator''. Analysis of the genetic material revealed that he likely suffered from
Kallmann syndrome, a genetic disorder that hinders puberty. Many males with the syndrome have an
undescended testicle and 10 percent have a
micropenis; most have low
testosterone levels. Hitler was also
predisposed to certain psychiatric
spectrum disorders, but King emphasized that one's genetic disposition does not mean they will develop those traits, calling the doctrine of
biological determinism "wrong". Both the analysis and its presentation in the documentary have been criticised by several geneticists and science writers as speculative and overly sensational, with some joining the presenters in cautioning against biological determinism and reading too much into
polygenic risk scores.
Other 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? • Presented the series Ancient Murders Unearthed for Sky History. • Presented the BBC Radio 4 documentary: Genetics and the longer arm of the law •
Richard III: The King in the Car Park • ''Britain's Secret Treasures'' •
Richard III: Solving a 500 Year Old Cold Case (TEDx Leicester) •
Richard III – The DNA Analysis & Conclusion (University of Leicester) •
Richard III: The Resolution of A 500-Year-Old Cold Case (Irving K. Barber Learning Centre Lecture, UBC) • Head Number 7 for Wondery schools and public events such as the
Cheltenham Science Festival, the Moscow Science Festival, a Congressional Breakfast on
Capitol Hill, the
Galway Science and Technology Festival, and the
Queen's Lecture in Berlin. She guest-presented the
Royal Institution's
Christmas Lectures in Japan in 2019 stepping in for
Alice Roberts. She advises on numerous television programmes and provides genetic expertise to authors such as
Patricia Cornwell,
Philippe Sands, Edward Glover, and
David McKie. King has also appeared in a number of television and radio documentaries as an expert in genetic genealogy, forensics, and/or ancient DNA.
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 • HALOGEN (History, Archaeology, Linguistics, Onomastics, and GENetics) • The Irish Surnames Project
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. She gave the
J. B. S. Haldane prize lecture of
The Genetics Society in 2018, at the
Royal Institution, London. She served as president of the
Adelphi Genetics Forum, formerly the Galton Institute, from 2020 to 2022. == Personal life ==