Tracing Leonardo's lineage: Tuscany reveals Da Vinci's heirs
In Tuscany, five living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci have been discovered. Scientists have traced their lineage back to the year 1331.
Key information
- Five living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci have been discovered in Tuscany.
- Genetic studies were conducted on remains from a tomb in Vinci.
- The descendants show interests similar to their famous ancestor.
In Tuscany, scientists have discovered five living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci. Genetic studies conducted on remains from a tomb in Vinci allowed for their identification as direct descendants of the Renaissance genius. This discovery sheds new light on the artist's legacy.
Among the discovered descendants are people with diverse interests. The eldest, 89-year-old Dalmazio Vinci, has a passion for aviation, much like his famous ancestor. Other descendants include a tapestry maker, a retired mechanic, and an amateur inventor.
Scientists from Rockefeller University, who are coordinating the research, have traced Leonardo's family lineage back to the year 1331. Thanks to this, they managed to create a family tree covering 21 generations and over 400 people. Researchers focused on the Y chromosome, which is passed down from father to son.
Our goal in reconstructing the Da Vinci family's lineage up to the present day, while also preserving and valuing the places connected to Leonardo, is to enable scientific research on his DNA, said Alessandro Vezzosi, one of the researchers.
Future of research
Thanks to these studies, scientists hope to understand the biological roots of Leonardo's creativity. They also pointed out that all the discovered men live near Leonardo's hometown and have inherited some of his quirks and interests.
According to the Corriere della Sera, 79-year-old Mauro Vinci is a tapestry maker, and 49-year-old Milko Vinci, like Leonardo da Vinci, is left-handed. "When I started learning, I wrote as if in a mirror. For as long as I can remember, I loved taking things apart to see how they worked," said Milko, adding, however, that saying he is "just like Leonardo" would be an exaggeration.
Research on Leonardo's DNA may provide new information about his health and causes of death. Scientists hope that thanks to modern technologies, more secrets related to the life and work of this outstanding artist can be discovered.
