New DNA test can determine eye and hair colour from people who lived in the Middle Ages

A team of researchers from Poland and the Netherlands have developed a system that is able to answer what the hair and eye colour is from individuals who lived over 800 years ago.<br /><br /> The HIrisPlex DNA analysis system was recently recreated for modern forensic research, but the researchers have now shown that this system is sufficiently robust to successfully work on older and more degraded samples from human remains such as teeth and bones. The system looks at 24 DNA polymorphisms (naturally occurring variations) which can be used to predict eye and hair colour.<br /><br /> In their article, ‘Bona fide colour: DNA prediction of human eye and hair colour from ancient and contemporary skeletal remains’, the researchers examined the remains of Polish General Wladyslaw Sikorski (1881 to 1943) confirming his blue eyes and blond hair.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2013/01/14/new-dna-test-can-determine-eye-and-hair-colour-for-people-who-lived-in-the-middle-ages/" target="_blank">Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net</a></b>

New DNA test can determine eye and hair colour from people who lived in the Middle Ages

A team of researchers from Poland and the Netherlands have developed a system that is able to answer what the hair and eye colour is from in...

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Is it King Richard III? We we will know in January

<br />The DNA and scientific testing to confirm whether or not the remains of an individual discovered in Leicester is that of England’s King Richard III will be known early in the new year, according to officials from the University of Leicester.<br /><br />DNA testing, environmental sampling and radiocarbon dating are some of the tests being undertaken to determine whether the skeleton found in Leicester was once Richard III – and there are also plans to do a facial reconstruction.<br /><br />Lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, of the University of Leicester’s Archaeological Services, explains “We are looking at many different lines of enquiry, the evidence from which all add up to give us more assurance about the identity of the individual. As well as the DNA testing, we have to take in all of the other pieces of evidence which tell us about the person’s lifestyle – including his health and where he grew up.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2012/11/19/is-it-king-richard-iii-we-we-will-know-in-january/" target="_blank">Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net</a></b><br />

Is it King Richard III? We we will know in January

The DNA and scientific testing to confirm whether or not the remains of an individual discovered in Leicester is that of England’s King Rich...

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Michael Ibsen: From cabinet-maker to kingmaker

His genetic profile holds the key to what could be one of the most remarkable archaeological stories of recent times.<br /><br /> Experts have, against the odds, found bones beneath a Leicester car park which fit the known details of King Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xbiDn6iadxpDx5nzGIIO0B0_4sZDllaIB2D-VKeHfnpS21qYGo233HSV-ad3LPjGZfKWpbRRAPlS_4GXxHml-DIrP-QUT_1ZM-Lob64WuMMt6QRkPSRgwYyEft3bV11VYRVyKUatI-I/s1600/_63143714_63143713.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xbiDn6iadxpDx5nzGIIO0B0_4sZDllaIB2D-VKeHfnpS21qYGo233HSV-ad3LPjGZfKWpbRRAPlS_4GXxHml-DIrP-QUT_1ZM-Lob64WuMMt6QRkPSRgwYyEft3bV11VYRVyKUatI-I/s400/_63143714_63143713.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /> And Michael Ibsen, a Canadian-born cabinet-maker from Paddington in London who is a descendant of Richard III's sister Anne, admits the link makes "the hair go up on my neck".<br /><br /> If the DNA of the battle-scarred skeleton with a twisted back proves to be a close enough match to that of 55-year-old Mr Ibsen, a chapter in history will have a new ending.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19731622" target="_blank">Click here to read this article from the BBC</a></b><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.medievalists.net/tag/king-richard-iii/" target="_blank">Click here to learn more about Richard III</a></b>

Michael Ibsen: From cabinet-maker to kingmaker

His genetic profile holds the key to what could be one of the most remarkable archaeological stories of recent times.  Experts have, against...

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