Ancient DNA ties Medici deaths to malaria, ending centuries of murder speculation
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.