Another step forward in Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘hunting’ to the DNA and his living heirs: six descendants of the Renaissance genius have undergone examination and the analysis 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 -year research is located in the volume ‘Genìa da Vinci’, by the Leonardist Alessandro Vezzosi and the historic Agnese Saturday.
The volume documents a genealogical tree dating back to 1331, crosses 21 generations and involves over 400 individuals. Analyzing sources and archival documents, the authors identified 15 ladder and current relatives, current relatives, in a genealogical, of Leonardo’s father and half -brother, Domenico Benedetto. This allowed David Caramelli, president of the museum system of the Florentine university and coordinator of the project for the anthropological and molecular aspects, and to Elena Pilli, forensic anthropologist, to submit six of them at the DNA examination from which the genetic continuity of the male line of the Da Vinci family emerged.
The existence of a possible family tomb in the church of Santa Croce a Vinci is also confirmed, currently the subject of archaeological excavations always conducted in collaboration with the University of Florence. The grandfather of Leonardo, Antonio, Uncle Francesco and some half brothers, Antonio, Pandolfo and Giovanni may have been buried there. The next step is the comparison between the DNA on these remains and that of the people considered descendants currently in the life of Leonardo.
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