Uncovering Beethoven's Secrets: Insights from DNA in His Hair

Researchers have analyzed Ludwig van Beethoven's DNA from strands of his hair to gain insight into the illnesses he suffered from that eventually led to his death. They found that Beethoven had a predisposition for liver disease and had become infected with hepatitis B sometime during his life, which may have hastened his premature death. Additionally, the Y chromosome in his DNA did not match those of any living members of his family line, suggesting that one of his ancestors on his father’s side had a child outside of wedlock with an unknown man, and Beethoven was a descendant of that unknown man.