Leonardo da Vinci has at least six living heirs, according to the latest genetic studies on the Renaissance genius’s possible family tree.
Italian researchers have announced another step forward in the ‘hunt’ for the DNA of Leonardo and his living heirs: six possible descendants of the Renaissance genius have been examined.
The analysis has revealed that portions of the Y chromosome, used for individual recognition, coincide with each other, thus confirming the genetic continuity of the male line of the da Vinci family, at least starting from the 15th generation.
The latest update of thirty years of research can be found in the volume ‘Genìa Da Vinci’, edited by the leonardist Alessandro Vezzosi and the historian Agnese Sabato.
The volume documents a family tree that dates back to 1331, spans 21 generations and involves over 400 individuals.
By analyzing sources and archive documents, the authors have identified 15 descendants in direct male line, current relatives, genealogically, of Leonardo’s father and half-brother, Domenico Benedetto.
This allowed David Caramelli, president of the University of Florence Museum System and coordinator of the project for anthropological and molecular aspects, and Elena Pilli, forensic anthropologist, to subject six of them to DNA testing which revealed the genetic continuity of the male line of the da Vinci family.
The existence of a possible family tomb in the Church of Santa Croce in Vinci near Floremce, the artists’ birthplace, and currently the subject of archaeological excavations conducted in collaboration with the University of Florence, was also confirmed.
Leonardo’s grandfather, Antonio, his uncle Francesco and some half-brothers, Antonio, Pandolfo and Giovanni, may also have been buried there.
The next step is to compare the DNA on these remains with that of people considered to be Leonardo’s currently living descendants.
Source: ANSA