Posted on 10/30/2008 2:49:25 PM PDT by MissCalico
Ancient iceman probably has no modern relatives
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Thu Oct 30, 2:21 pm ET
Reuters – An undated handout file photo shows "Otzi", Italy's prehistoric iceman. "Otzi", …
LONDON (Reuters) – "Otzi," Italy's prehistoric iceman, probably does not have any modern day descendants, according to a study published Thursday.
A team of Italian and British scientists who sequenced his mitochondrial DNA -- which is passed down through the mother's line -- found that Otzi belonged to a genetic lineage that is either extremely rare or has died out.
Otzi's 5,300-year-old corpse was found frozen in the Tyrolean Alps in 1991.
"Our research suggests that Otzi's lineage may indeed have become extinct," Martin Richards of Leeds University in Britain, who worked on the study, said in a statement.
"We'll only know for sure by sampling intensively in the Alpine Valleys where Otzi was born."
The findings published in the journal Current Biology reverses previous research from 1994 on a small section of Otzi's DNA that suggested the so-called "Iceman" had relatives living in Europe. But Richards and colleagues said their analysis confirmed that Otzi belonged to a previously unidentified lineage that has not been seen to date in modern European populations.
Scientists were thrilled to find Otzi's mummified body had remained frozen, and so almost perfectly preserved, for more than 5,000 years. An arrowhead was found in his left shoulder, suggesting Otzi did not simply freeze to death while climbing the high mountains. Evidence shows he was likely a hunte . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Well let's hurry up already . . . it's only been 17 years.
Which is still more than we know about Obie.
“Grant Money”...The gift that keeps giving!!
Just an hunch, but I’m thinking that being stupid enough to wander off into the Alps with little clothing would be a negative factor in leaving offspring.
You mean the great George Gervin didn't have any kids?
>Just an hunch, but I’m thinking that being stupid enough to wander off into the Alps with little clothing would be a negative factor in leaving offspring.
True. But he could have been waylaid as he was traveling, as the article says they did find an arrowhead in his shoulder.
Well, at least it isn't money from U$A taxpayers. ;)
I don't know why they haven't already checked the DNA of the local surrounding valleys. It would be so interesting to me if they found one of his descendants.
He’s dead Jim!
Maybe they just didn't want a 5,300 year old corpse showing up for the holidays and drinking all their liquor.
Men don’t pass on their mitochondrial DNA, so the rarity or otherwise of the iceman’s mitochondrial DNA has no bearing on the question of his possible descendants.
The “line” that is averred to be extinct includes his mother’s mother’s mother’s ... mother’s mother ) whoever is considered to be the “head of the line”, ) her daughters, daughters’ daughters , daughters’ daughters’ daughters, and so on to the present, and only the living sons of any of these “nth daughters.”
Jerry Butler is a great singer and an incredibly nice man.
I used to work, way back, for a non-profit that he was on the board of. Whenever he’d call, I’d put him on hold, then tell my boss, “Iceman on line 4.”
In those days, in those isolated, sparsely populated areas, his kids might have shared his maternal DNA anyway. (which is all beside the point)
Have they checked Miami?
Ice Man - Otzi of Italy
Widely known as "Otzi (Oetzi)" the Iceman found in 1991 in the Italian Alps, is also known as "Similaun Man". Of the Neolithic era, Otzi lived between 3350-3300 B.C. in the "Copper Age". He was believed to be 46-years old when he died at the top of a mountain pass from wounds received.
Name - Iceman
Haplo - K
Haplotype - 16224C, 16311C
Thomas Jefferson has/had haplogroup K, same as the Iceman.
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