A chalk drawing can hide Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA

Set researchers believe that they have received a sample of the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci from dna.

A DNA sample was isolated from an old chalk drawing depicting the Holy Child. It is sketched for painting. Leonardo da Vinci, who lived between 1452 and 1519, has been suspected as the author of the drawing.

The DNA found in the sketch has similarities to the DNA of Leonardo’s family. Similar DNA sequences have been found in his grandfather’s cousin Frosino of ser Giovanni da Vincin from the letter written.

Based on the DNA samples, the men seem to have a common ancestor in the region of present-day Central Italy in Tuscany, where Leonardo was born.

The human genome is encoded in the DNA located in our cells and packaged in chromosomes.

Researchers published their findings in the bioRxiv pre-publication service. The research has not yet been peer-reviewed.

The work offers “hints, but no direct conclusions”, say geneticists and other researchers in its announcement. It was published by a private project to find out about Leonardo’s inheritance.

It is known that Leonardo smoothed his works with his fingers in addition to brushes, he writes science journal Science. Therefore, it can be assumed that even a little bit of DNA could be found in his works.

For a geneticist chromosome Y is a good target if you want to find out an individual’s family lines. You see, the Y-chromosome is inherited almost unchanged from father to son.

The geneticists compared the DNA found in the grandfather’s letter with about 90,000 known markers.

The DNA found in the grandfather’s cousin’s letter and the drawing of the “Holy Child” belonged to the same haplogroup, i.e. the family tree group of the paternal line.

However, there is no absolute certainty that the DNA sequences found are Leonardo’s. The “Holy Child” might as well have been sketched by one of his students. In that case, the DNA would belong to the student.

The DNA trace can also be inherited by a person who lived in Tuscany, who had taken care of Leonardo’s collections over the years, says website Live Science.

Leonardo with the help of the right DNA, for example, it would be possible to find out which works the master has really done himself.

Consideration is also being given to whether the DNA would reveal biological signs of Leonardo’s versatile talents.

Leonardo was not only a famous painter but also an engineer, anatomist, architect, musician and much more. He has gained a reputation as a general genius.

It is estimated that Leonardo had, for example, more accurate vision than usual.

DNA there are obstacles in the way of proving it right.

Leonardo’s remains were first mixed with others when they were once transferred to Leonardo’s supposed tomb in the Saint-Hubert chapel in France Amboissa.

Geneticists have not been allowed to examine the remains of the chapel’s grave. The researchers had to obtain a DNA sample for comparison from elsewhere.

“The Holy Child” is the only work believed to be done by Leonardo in which human DNA has been found.

Researchers have been denied access to Leonardo’s father’s tomb in Florence for the time being. Mother’s burial place is unknown.

Leonardo there are no known descendants. He never married.

In recent years has been identified Living descendants of the Leonardo family. Their DNA can be compared to the DNA found in the “Holy Child”.

Investigators are now also looking for letters and documents written by male relatives. DNA can be found in them for comparison.

Rockefeller University researcher leading Leonardo’s inheritance project Jesse Ausubel believesthat the researchers now have the right tools and the project is progressing.