DNA From Beethoven’s Hair Unlocks Medical and Family Secrets

NYT ^ | 03 24 2023 | Gina Kolata

[yesthatjallen]

SNIP

Ever since, a cottage industry has aimed to understand Beethoven’s illnesses and the cause of his death.

Now, an analysis of strands of his hair has upended long held beliefs about his health. The report provides an explanation for his debilitating ailments and even his death, while also raising new questions about his genealogical origins and hinting at a dark family secret.

The paper, by an international group of researchers, was published Wednesday in the journal Current Biology.

It offers additional surprises: A famous lock of hair — the subject of a book and a documentary — was not Beethoven’s. It was from an Ashkenazi Jewish woman.

The study also found that Beethoven did not have lead poisoning, as had been widely believed. Nor was he a Black man, as some had proposed.

And a Flemish family in Belgium — who share the last name van Beethoven and had proudly claimed to be related — had no genetic ties to him.

SNIP

[yesthatjallen]

*Beethoven was not black. Nor was he a Jewish woman*

Cell: Current Biology

Highlights

Eight locks of hair attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven underwent genomic analyses

We deemed five of these authentic and sequenced Beethoven’s genome to high coverage

Beethoven had a predisposition for liver disease and became infected with hepatitis B

We also discovered an extra-pair-paternity event in Beethoven’s paternal line

[dfwgator]

[PGR88]

Archived, non-paywall version of article

https://archive.is/R9Nmh

[Billthedrill]

Science is racist.

[drSteve78]

MostExcellent.

[PGR88]

First, the researchers tested the Hiller lock. Because it turned out to be from a woman, it was not — could not be — Beethoven’s.

Weird. In the 21st century, we believe that men can become women. Its all how one "identifies."

[dfwgator]

The Austrians are still trying to prove that Beethoven was Austrian, and Hitler was German.

[tired&retired]

FASCINATING READ.

The detective work was phenomenal.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks yesthatjallen.

[snip] A famous lock of hair... was not Beethoven's. It was from an Ashkenazi Jewish woman... Beethoven did not have lead poisoning... Nor was he a Black man... a Flemish family in Belgium... last name van Beethoven... had no genetic ties to him... Beethoven had a predisposition for liver disease... [had] hepatitis B... [and] an extra-pair-paternity event in Beethoven's paternal line [/snip]

"Is that a musical staff, or are you just happy to see me?" ping.

[Red Badger]

DUH-DUH-DUH-DUUUUUH!................................

[Leaning Right]

Since I’ve been here for 10+ years, I need only read the title before commenting.
And here’s what I want to know. Why all the interest in some big old dog?

[Jane Long]

Did they determine the reason for his hearing loss?

[minnesota_bound]

Tsk tsk, you forgot to capitalize black..... : )

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks again yesthatjallen, 7mb PDF, full article at Current Biology:

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdfExtended/S0960-9822(23)00181-1

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[SunkenCiv]

https://search.brave.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2023%2F03%2F22%2Fhealth%2Fbeethoven-death-dna-hair.html

[Songcraft]

They're trying to find out what happened to the big, hairy brute when he rolled over.

[Magnum44]

Ludwig Von Beethoven, seen here rocking out at a San Dimas mall...

[dfwgator]

“No Stairway To Heaven!”

[1Old Pro]

We also discovered an extra-pair-paternity event in Beethoven’s paternal line

Ruh Roh