All articles tagged with #dna analysis
DNA analysis of two Chilean mummies from Camarones shows traces of smallpox similar to European strains, providing the first direct molecular evidence that the disease was introduced to the Americas during European colonization and contributed to the drastic decline of Indigenous populations, though it remains unclear whether spread was deliberate or accidental.
DNA analysis overturns long-held beliefs about a 4,000-year-old Stonehenge burial, showing the interred individual was a woman who was likely a metalworker and shaman, underscoring women's prominence in Bronze Age society.
DNA analysis of a 4,000-year-old skeleton from Wiltshire shows the metalworker buried with tools and adornments was a woman, suggesting women played a central role as craftspeople and possibly shamans in Bronze Age Britain and rewriting long-held assumptions about Stonehenge-era society.
Belgian diver Stefan Panis found up to 20 Guinness bottles dating to 1864 in the Mindora shipwreck off Dover; scientists are analyzing the contents for DNA to potentially recreate the original beer, with the Guinness Archive coordinating the effort.
A LAPD criminalist testified that DNA from stains found in D4vd's Hollywood Hills home and on items in the garage matched 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered remains were found in the front trunk of the singer's Tesla, as a preliminary hearing weighs whether he should stand trial on capital murder and related charges, including lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and murder of a witness, along with counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child and mutilation of human remains.
New ancient-DNA analysis of Medici tomb remains finds malaria parasites (Plasmodium falciparum and P. malariae) in Francesco I de’ Medici’s bones and malaria signals in Giovanni, strengthening the case that the 1587 deaths were due to malaria rather than arsenic poisoning, while noting that toxin influence can’t be completely ruled out and that DNA evidence isn’t always definitive.
In Provo, a multi-day preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson revealed surveillance video, text messages prosecutors say amount to a confession, and a taped interview with Robinson’s former roommate; the defense challenged the DNA and ballistics evidence and questioned investigators’ handling, as prosecutors seek probable cause to move toward trial on charges including aggravated murder and a possible death sentence.
Carla Anderson disappeared from her locked Wadena, Minnesota apartment in 1987, leaving a rented movie in the VCR with no sign of a break-in. Authorities have renewed the case with a $25,000 reward and are using updated technology, including DNA analysis, to pursue both old and new leads as Carla’s family and the small community await answers after almost four decades.
A 26-year cold case from Olympic National Park has been solved: remains found in a sleeping bag in 2000 were identified as Joseph Louis Serrao Jr., who was last seen in 1998, through forensic genealogy and DNA testing conducted by Othram and partners, bringing closure to his Hawaii-based family.
Forensic work and DNA analysis by Othram, using forensic genealogy, identified the skeletal remains found in a sleeping bag in Olympic National Park in 2000 as Joseph Louis Serrao Jr., who had been missing since 1998. Investigators traced relatives across several states and matched DNA to confirm Serrao’s identity, solving a nearly 30-year case and providing closure for his Hawaii-based family; the work was completed by 2025 and publicly announced in 2026.
DNA analysis of Ötzi the Iceman’s 5,300-year-old remains shows ancient fungi and gut bacteria still alive, with cold-adapted species likely colonizing his body and possibly slowly multiplying in tiny pockets of mummy moisture; some microbes are extremely rare in modern industrialized populations, suggesting a distinct Alpine microbiome. The findings highlight microbial longevity in frozen remains and raise considerations for preservation and our understanding of ancient ecosystems.
Alaskan fossils long labeled as mammoth bones were found to be two whale species (minke whale and North Pacific right whale) after radiocarbon dating showed ages of 2,000–3,000 years — far younger than mammoths. Isotopic and DNA testing confirmed cetacean origin and marine diets, and the remains, stored for seven decades in a museum, were likely mislabeled or misattributed since the 1950s. The discovery prompts questions about how coastal whale remains ended up inland and adds to a growing pattern of fossil misidentification.
DNA analysis and a digital facial reconstruction of a 3,500-year-old Mycenaean burial reveal the woman buried beside a man with three swords was his sister, not his wife. The reconstruction shows a young woman; bone and artifact evidence suggest she wielded or owned weapons and endured labor, prompting a rethink of gender roles in Late Bronze Age Mycenae.
At the 100-day mark in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, investigators say the case could hinge on a strand of DNA being analyzed by the FBI at Quantico; the DNA was recovered from Guthrie’s Tucson home and initially tested at a private Florida lab before being sent to Quantico, with experts stressing that forensic DNA work— including potential family-tree analyses—takes time. A prior DNA lead from gloves yielded a dead end confirming no connection to the case. Authorities continue pursuing doorbell footage, tips, and digital data, while rewards totaling over $1 million are offered for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest of those involved.
South African authorities euthanised a large crocodile and retrieved a Portuguese businessman’s remains from its stomach, confirming the victim as Gabriel Batista, 59, who disappeared after his vehicle was swept away while crossing a partially submerged bridge over the Komati River. The crocodile, about 600 kg and five metres long, was airlifted for examination and its stomach also contained several clothing items; identity was confirmed by DNA analysis as the investigation continues.