A team of scientists has discovered a male line of Da Vinci that can finally confirm the identity of their bones and open doors to the sequence of their DNA.
After almost a decade of work, the researchers of the project ADN Leonardo claim to be closer than ever rebuild DNA at 500 by Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci.
The international team recently confirmed a Male Da Vinci Lineage Which dates back to 1331, a breakthrough that can help resolve centuries of debate about the mona Lisa author’s final rest and paving the way for the sequencing of his genome.
The project, led by molecular anthropologist David Caramelli and forensic anthropologist Elena Pilli, analyzed the DNA of six male descendants Living of the Extended Family of Da Vinci.
It was found that segments of their Y chromosomes corresponded, suggesting a continuous lineage over at least 15 generations. This genetic line provides a crucial reference for comparison with the remains suspected of the painter and his family.
Da Vinci died in France in 1519 And according to his will, he was buried in the church of Saint Florentin in Aboise. However, the church was destroyed during the French Revolution, and the bones that are believed to be of it were only recovered in 1863, before being buried in a small chapel in the Loire Valley.
Since then, doubts have persisted about whether remains are really to the famous artist. As Vinci had no children, the confirmation of his identity requires genetic connections with other family members.
This challenge has encouraged genealogists Alessandro Videozosi and Agnese Sabato, from the Leonardo da Vinci Heritage Association, to meticulously outline the family tree. Your research revealed 15 Possible descendants through the Father and the siblings of Da Vinci.
The project also began the excavations of a tomb of the Vinci family, which is believed to contain the bones of Leonardo’s grandfather, uncle, and saints. Preliminary analyzes suggest that there are at least one man among the remains, although more tests are needed to determine if the DNA is well preserved, explains the.
If scientists are able to extract usable fragments from the Y chromosome from these remains and combine them with living descendants, this will reinforce the hypothesis that the bones disputed in AMboise are indeed Leonardo. From there, the investigators expect rebuild your complete DNA sequence.
Project leaders claim that their ultimate goal is not only to confirm Vinci’s burial place, but also exploring how their genetics may have influenced to its legendary creativityvisual acuity and even your health.
“Through the recovery of Leonardo’s DNA,” he explained, Pézosi, “we hope to understand the biological roots of his extraordinary talents and perhaps the causes of his death.”
