Posted on 07/05/2004 4:44:37 PM PDT by wagglebee
A London restaurant chain is offering customers free DNA testing to see if they're descended from Genghis Khan.
Restaurant Shish has promised free meals for any found to be related to the notorious Mongol leader.
The unusual promotion is to mark the Mongolian government's decision to allow citizens to have surnames for the first time since they were banned by the communists in the 1920s.
Some 50,000 Mongolians now proudly claim direct descent from and bear the name of Genghis Khan.
Shish has teamed up with DNA-based research company Oxford Ancestors to offer descendants food from their ancestral homelands.
From Saturday July 3 to Friday July 9, diners at the Shish restaurant venues in London's Hoxton and Willesden Green will have the opportunity to have their DNA sent off for analysis
The procedure needs only a small brush to be rubbed quickly around the inside cheek of the participant. The sample is then sent off for analysis which takes around two months.
It is estimated that 17 million people worldwide, including the British Royal Family, Iranian Royalty, and the family of Dracula, are direct descendents of Genghis Khan.
The conqueror founded an empire which, at its height, stretched from The Sea Of Japan, across Russia and northern India, to the edges of modern day Eastern Europe.
Not quite sure what the relevance is, but its sort of interesting.
I have read that Genghis Khan probably does have a LOT of actual descendants, after raping his way across the world. In fact the article I read said that DNA confirms this supposition.
Paging Shaka Kahn! Shaka Kahn!
Read about the Mongol Empire. Their warfare, way of life, how they dealt with the conquered...
Absolutely fascinating.
I'm part Mongolian but I'm not going to make any Khanfound trip to London to take a DNA test.
Not even for a free dinner?
It's the wrathful one on the left.
From Hell's drive thru lane, I stab at thee!
Genghis Khan was a great man.
We could use his talents in the Middle East today. If he were in command, Fallujah would have ceased to exist weeks ago, Muktadr El Sadr's head would be in the central square of some Iraqi "Holy City" and the remaining "insurgents" would be living in caves, quaking in terror.
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
Petronskiiii!
Thanks. I was looking for that!
With DNA "evidence" like this, one would be hard pressed to obtain a conviction for a traffic ticket, let alone anything more.
Once we find the buried remains, and have identified them beyond a doubt, there will be time for such studies. Until then, this is more of a publicity stunt than real science.
While there are some fascinating examples of cultural claims being backed up by DNA, hard data must be available. When an African group claimed to be Jews, their DNA did show markers for the Cohen group.
For the G. Kahn theory to be validated, some DNA will be needed. So far, such DNA is, as Clements remarked, "Scarce, Almighty scarce."
Yes, I wonder where they got Genghis Khan's DNA, since he was buried in a mass grave.
I can get them DNA from Morris Kahn if they want.
You're the genealogical expert, Amelia. Do I have a shot here? ;-)
Well, according to the article, "17 million people worldwide, including the British Royal Family, Iranian Royalty, and the family of Dracula, are direct descendents of Genghis Khan."
I'm thinking you ought to fit into at least one of those categories. ;-)
ROFL. Thanks. I knew I could count on you!! ;-)
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