Scientists have extracted DNA from a Renaissance drawing attributed to Leonardo da Vinci — but are unable to guarantee that the genetic material actually comes from the Italian genius.
In a new , whose results were pre-published at the beginning of the month in bioRxiva team of researchers extracted trace DNA embedded in a red chalk sketch called “Holy Boy” which some claim was made by da Vinci.
The extracted sample presents similarities with genetic material recovered from a letter written in the 1400s by Frosino di ser Giovanni da Vinci, cousin of Leonardo da Vinci’s grandfather, António da Vinci.
Specifically, the drawing and the letter contain Y chromosome sequences what correspond to those of a haplogroupor genetic lineage, with a common ancestor in Tuscany, where Leonardo da Vinci was born.
How are Y chromosome sequences transmitted almost unchanged from father to son, the recovery of these sequences is “an excellent starting point” for researchers who intend to reconstitute Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA, the geneticist told the magazine Charlie Leewho directs the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Connecticut, USA, who was not involved in the study.
However, some experts don’t believe that the “Holy Child” was personally designed by Leonardo da Vinci, considering that it must have been one of his students doing the sketch.
Consequently, “It’s a matter of heads or tails“Know whether the DNA in the drawing belongs to da Vinci, said Lee. The genetic material could belong to a student or to any of the countless conservatives with Tuscan roots who have handled the design over the years, says Science.
Researchers want to help authenticate some of your works of art. Some experts also suggest that the Italian polymath’s genetic material could reveal biological reasons for his exceptional artistic abilities — in addition to other characteristics, such as a above normal vision.
However, there are many obstacles along the way. To begin with, Da Vinci’s tomb in France was partially destroyed during the French Revolution, and his remains were lostor at least mixed with others, during a transfer to a new supposed burial site in the Saint-Hubert Chapel in Amboise.
Even though this tomb may contain bones rich in DNA of the Renaissance polymath, researchers do not have authorization to sequence genetic material from the tomb until a sample of reliable comparison.
This restriction left scientists with few options in addition to trying to extract DNA from da Vinci’s works of art, which poses challenges, as some pieces are banned and others, such as “Study of the Front Paws of a Horse”, have no any traces of human DNA.
Another problem is that the mü of Viincis, Meo Lip Caterineis buried in an unknown location. Caterina was a teenage maid when she gave birth to Leonardo.
If they are foundhis mortal remains could provide a correspondence with the “Holy Child” drawing for the mitochondrial DNA, a type of DNA that is transmitted from mother to child and which is normally found in greater quantities in objects than the DNA in chromosomes.
Scientists also were denied access to the tomb of da Vinci’s father in Florence, where they might have been able to find Y chromosome DNA to compare with the “Holy Child”. And da Vinci himself has no known direct descendants, because never married or had childrennote or .
One option that remains is for the da Vinci family to compare the Y chromosome sequences of the “Holy Child”.
Researchers are currently analyze three bones recovered from a family tomb in Italy where Leonardo’s grandfather is buriedAntónio da Vinci, and collecting DNA samples from his known living descendants.
The teams are also sequencing DNA from a strand of hair which was excavated in 1863 in Amboise and which may have come from Leonardo da Vinci’s beard.
Finally, researchers are looking for letters and other documents written by male relatives that may have preserved the DNA of its author. Frosino di ser Giovanni da Vinci’s letter is one of these artifacts.
The study authors are now working on the various leads available. In addition to the lock of hair — if it really belongs to Leonardo da Vinci — and direct evidence from the polymath’s tomb, the most likely source of DNA comes from manuscripts and drawings which we know da Vinci wrote personally, investigators said.
The scientists hope their paper will help convince authorities and archivists to let them collect samples of more works of Leonardo da Vinci.
For example, a 72-page observation notebook known as the “” has a fingerprint that is almost certainly da Vinci’s, making him a good candidate, he told Science Domenico Laurenzaart historian at the University of Cagliari, who was not involved in the study.
