Traces of Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA May Have Been Discovered on a Red Chalk Drawing Called ‘Holy Child’

researchers of By analyzing drawings from the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project (LDVP) holy child And other Renaissance artifacts, such as letters written by a da Vinci relative, they have recovered some Y chromosome DNA sequences that appear to belong to a genetic group of people with common ancestors in Tuscany, where the genius and Renaissance master was born in 1452. Findings, reported for the first time ScienceThis may be the first time that scientists have identified DNA from da Vinci himself.

dna

Historical artifacts can accumulate DNA from the environment and potentially provide useful information about the people who created and handled them. However, collecting that material without damaging or contaminating such precious objects is a complex challenge. Today, decisions about the authorship of a work depend on expert opinion – for example, how the brushstrokes were made.

So LDVP researchers used an extremely gentle swabbing method to attempt to collect biological material. They then extracted a small amount of DNA, which provided useful information. “We recovered heterogeneous mixtures of non-human DNA,, “And, in a subset of samples, sparse male-specific human DNA signals,” says the study, published in the preprint journal bioRxiv.

da vinci clue

The researchers concluded from the analysis that they found the closest match on the Y chromosome (segments of which are transmitted almost unchanged from father to son) within the broader E1b1b lineage now commonly found in southern Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East. They say some of the DNA may have come from Leonardo da Vinci himself.

“In several independent swabs from items associated with Leonardo da Vinci, the Y chromosome marker data obtained suggested assignment within the broader E1b1/E1b1b clade,” the study said. The results also indicate mixed DNA contributions associated with the source material, however, consistent with modern handling.

“Together, these data demonstrate the feasibility and limitations of combining metagenomics and human DNA marker analysis for cultural heritage science,” the paper reads, “providing a foundational workflow for future conservation science studies and hypothesis-driven investigations of provenance, authentication, and handling history.”

further testing

Although research has demonstrated a novel approach, they admit that they have not come back with conclusive evidence. Although the data suggests that the DNA may be Leonardo da Vinci’s, claiming that any trace of DNA in the artefact is actually his is too complicated. “Establishing a clear identity… is extremely complex,” Davide Carmeli, an anthropologist at the University of Florence and LDVP member, told Science.

This is because scientists cannot verify the genetic sequences of the artifacts by comparing them with DNA taken from Leonardo da Vinci himself; There are still no confirmed samples. Furthermore, da Vinci had no direct descendants, and his burial site was vandalized in the early 19th century. Encouraged by the first clues about da Vinci’s DNA, LDVP scientists now hope to convince the custodians of Leonardo’s actions and the notebook to allow them to take further samples that could solve the case.

This story originally appeared on WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.