Genetic analysis of the skeletal remains attributed to Francesco Petrarca.

Full Abstract

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.

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Author information

Author/s: Caramelli, David (D); 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);

Affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica, Laboratorio di Antropologia, Università di Firenze, via del Proconsolo 12, 50122 Firenze, Italy. david.caramelli(-atsign-)unifi.it

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Historical Article; Journal Article

Journal: Forensic science international (Forensic Sci Int), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Nov; vol 173 (issue 1) : pp 36-40

Dates: Created 2007/09/24; Completed 2007/10/18;

PMID: 17320326, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Associated Chemicals: DNA, Mitochondrial (0)

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