Genetic analysis of the skeletal remains attributed to Francesco Petrarca.
We report on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis of the supposed remains of Francesco Petrarca exhumed in November 2003, from the S. Maria Assunta church, in Arquà Padua (Italy) where he died in 1374. The optimal preservation of the remains allowed the retrieval of sufficient mtDNA for genetic analysis. DNA was extracted from a rib and a tooth and mtDNA sequences were determined in multiple clones using the strictest criteria currently available for validation of ancient DNA sequences, including independent replication. MtDNA sequences from the tooth and rib were not identical, suggesting that they belonged to different individuals. Indeed, molecular gender determination showed that the postcranial remains belonged to a male while the skull belonged to a female. Historical records indicated that the remains were violated in 1630, possibly by thieves. These results are consistent with morphological investigations and confirm the importance of integrating molecular and morphological approaches in investigating historical remains.
Caramelli
David
D
Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica, Laboratorio di Antropologia, Università di Firenze, via del Proconsolo 12, 50122 Firenze, Italy. david.caramelli@unifi.it
Lalueza-Fox
Carles
C
Capelli
Cristian
C
Lari
Martina
M
Sampietro
María Lourdes
ML
Gigli
Elena
E
Milani
Lucio
L
Pilli
Elena
E
Guimaraes
Silvia
S
Chiarelli
Brunetto
B
Marin
Vito Terribile Wien
VT
Casoli
Antonella
A
Stanyon
Roscoe
R
Bertranpetit
Jaume
J
Barbujani
Guido
G
D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis*; D049249:Exhumation; D005197:Famous Persons; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012272:Ribs; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial