Scientific research into the origins of the explorer Christopher Columbus will resume after a long hiatus. This is what a professor at the University of Granada said today.
Using DNA analysis of Columbus’ remains, researchers at the University of Granada are trying to solve the mystery surrounding its origins. Most historians claim Columbus came from Genoa, but Catalonia or Portugal would also be possible.
José Antonio Llorente, professor of forensic medicine at the University of Granada, announced at a press conference that the results of the investigation were expected in October.
Llorente actually began analyzing the DNA of Columbus’ bones buried in Seville Cathedral in 2003. But according to him, the technologies were not sufficiently developed at the time that very little information could be gleaned from the bones. The investigation was finally stopped in 2005. “The bones were preserved until we developed better technology, and this is the case today,” the professor said.
The DNA from the bones will be compared to that of my brother and son, Columbus. It will also be compared with the DNA of live people with the same surname and suspected links to the traveler.
The research is conducted by the University of Granada, in collaboration with the University of Florence in Italy and the University of North Texas in the United States.
Llorente said the results could be conclusive. He warns that it is not certain that researchers will be able to extract enough specific DNA from the bones to reach a definitive conclusion.
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