Anna Hartz
Leonardo da Vinci’s Family Tree Leads to Living Relatives
Leonardo da Vinci is known around the world for his art, inventions, and scientific ideas.
But what about his family? New research from Italy shows that the famous Renaissance genius has at least six living male-line descendants, according to Ziare.
This discovery is the result of a decades-long study into Leonardo’s family tree and DNA.
Italian researchers have been working for over 30 years to map out Leonardo da Vinci’s lineage.
Their latest update was published in a book titled Genia Da Vinci. It’s written by Leonardo expert Alessandro Vezzosi and historian Agnese Sabato.
The book traces the family back to the year 1331. It follows 21 generations and includes more than 400 people.
From this research, the team identified 15 direct male-line descendants of Leonardo’s father and half-brother.
Six of these men agreed to DNA testing. Scientists examined their Y chromosomes, which are passed from father to son.
The results showed a match. This confirms a continuous male bloodline in the Da Vinci family.
David Caramelli, head of the Museum System at the University of Florence, helped lead the genetic analysis. Elena Pilli, a forensic anthropologist, also played a key role in the project.
The discovery brings researchers one step closer to identifying Leonardo’s own DNA.
There may also be a family tomb in the Church of Santa Croce in Vinci, a town near Florence. Vinci is Leonardo’s birthplace.
Archaeologists are now investigating this site. It’s possible the remains of Leonardo’s grandfather, uncle, and several half-brothers are buried there.
The next step in the project will be to compare DNA from the possible remains in the tomb with the DNA of the six living relatives.
If the match is confirmed, scientists will finally have access to Leonardo da Vinci’s own genetic material.
This could lead to new insights about his life, health, and even his appearance.
The search for Leonardo’s DNA is far from over, but it’s getting closer to the truth.