Category Archives: DNA

Scientists have succeeded in extracting DNA of ancient humans from sediment in the Vindija Cave in Croatia.Johannes KrauseMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology/AP

A group of German scientists have found the DNA of extinct humans without finding any skeletal remains.

The researchers, who are currently excavating even dig sites in Belgium, Croatia, France, Russia and Spain, have found genetic remains of ancient humans like the Neanderthals and their cousins, the Denisovans, in sediment samples, the New York Times reports.

Until now, the only way researchers could study the genes of ancient humans was to recover DNA from fossils, according to the Times.

"This work represents an enormous scientific breakthrough," Antonio Rosas, a scientist at Spain's Natural Science Museum in Madrid, said, according to the BBC . "We can now tell which species of hominid occupied a cave and on which particular stratigraphic level, even when no bone or skeletal remains are present."

The findings were made possible thanks to recent technological advancements in recent years, like rapid sequencing of DNA, according to the Times.

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DNA From Extinct Humans Discovered in Cave Dirt - TIME

It starts by releasing the soil-bound DNA into a solution using chemical reagents. If you fill the solution with the synthesized DNA halves of the species you're looking for, the soil DNA will naturally attach to those halves and let you sequence it.

The implications are huge for anthropology, paleontology and archaeology. In theory, you only need to sift through dirt to know whether or not hominids (or really, any relatively recent species) were in a given area. Early tests bear this out: the researchers not only found evidence of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA (both in expected and unexpected places), but even woolly mammoths and woolly rhinos. This could help verify mysteries like a recent discovery suggesting that humans may have been in North America over 115,000 years earlier than previously thought. Do you have evidence of early tools, but no bones to go with them? Just test the soil and you'll know which species likely made them.

There are limits. DNA only survives for so long before it degrades, so it won't help with dinosaurs and other species that have been gone for millions of years. And of course, the collection methods are imperfect. You need an idea of what species might have been present, and there are no guarantees that there won't be some contamination. Even so, it won't be surprising if this new gene discovery approach eventually fills in some important gaps in human history, and Earth as a whole.

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DNA in dirt can reveal where human ancestors lived - Engadget

In Abandoned an Forsaked, we examine comic book stories and ideas that were not only abandoned, but also had the stories/plots specifically overturned by a later writer (as if they were a legal precedent).

Today, we look at how Superboy thought his human DNA came from one place when it really came from somewhere else entirely

Adventures of Superman #500 (by Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett and Doug Hazlewood) had the first appearance of Superb

Geez, calm down, guy. Im sorry, but Im GOING to keep referring to you as Superboy. Youll just have to deal with it. Anyhow, the Newsboy Legion breaks him out of Project: Cadmus

(the next page is him freaking out about being called Superboy).

We learned that Project: Cadmus, led by Executive Direct Paul Westfield, had made a sort of clone of Superman, where they approximated Superman by using Kryptonian DNA merged with human DNA. Superboy, though, didnt know WHO the human donor was for his DNA.

That changed in 1995, as part of DCs Year One series of Annuals. They would tell Year One style tales for their older heroes while for their younger heroes, they would be major events in the lives of the young characters. For Superboy Annual #2 (by Karl and Barbara Kesel, David Brewer and 596 inkers), that major event was Superboy finding out who the human side of his DNA came from. And it was disappointing for him, as it was, in fact, Westfield, who was an evil dude who had just been killed in a crossover the previous year

They probably did miss an opportunity by having the DNA come from a guy who had already been killed. Anyhow, Superman shows up to console Superboy

So that was the set-up for the rest of the 1990s. However, Geoff Johns, before he was a comic book writer, actually wrote in to suggest that someone ELSE be the donor of Superboys human DNA, and in Teen Titans #1 (by Johns, Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza), he made his earlier fan suggestion become a reality

And in Teen Titans #25, Superboys greatest fear of being controlled by his evil human donor came true, as we also learned why Luthor did the whole thing in the first place

(Pretty ballsy plan, since Luthor thought Superman was dead when Superboy was created, but hey, Luthor is a clever guy). Luckily, Superboy broke free of his programming and continued to be a hero until the New 52 sort of eliminated him from continuity.

If anyone else has a suggestion for a notable comic book retcon that theyd like to see featured, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!

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Where Did Superboy's Human DNA REALLY Come From? - CBR (blog)

The question cant get more personal. Can you give up the rights to your DNA data?

The answer is yes. And Larry Guernsey of San Jose knows firsthand.

Family intrigue led Guernsey to buy his wife a DNA test kit from Ancestry DNA.

Shes always been interested in genealogy, he said, noting that his wife had always wondered if she was part Indian. The $99 Ancestry DNA test Guernsey bought as a Christmas present uses a saliva sample to trace family history.

A simple test can reveal an estimate of your ethnic mix, says the announcer in an Ancestry DNA web video. The graphic on the screen shows a percentage breakdown of ethnicities.

Like if youre Irish or Scandinavian, or both, the announcer explains.

For the Guernseys, the test was supposed to be fun. But their curiosity twisted to suspicion when they read the fine print. To proceed, they would have to give Ancestry a perpetual, royalty-free worldwide transferable license to use their DNA. Guernsey was shocked.

That entire phrase: perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, transferable, it sounds like they have left it open to do anything they want with it, Guernsey said.

Larry was concerned that the transferrable license could put his familys DNA in the hands of an insurance company -- that could later deny health coverage.

You could get into some really weird science fiction scenarios, he said.

We brought Larrys concerns to Stanford law professor Hank Greely, who teaches and writes books about the intersection of biotechnology and the law. We also brought Ancestrys contract, including the perpetual royalty-free worldwide transferable license.

I think that was written by a lawyer who was probably being paid by the word, Greely quipped. The professor then explained that a federal protection called GINA -- The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act -- safeguards the public. Your DNA cannot be used against you in employment and health insurance.

Under current law they cant deny you health insurance because of genetic information, Greely said.

But Greely says that protection doesnt apply to things like life insurance or long-term care insurance and theres no guarantee GINA will be on the books forever. In fact, a controversial bill in Congress right now would strip away consumer-friendly parts of GINA. Still, Greely says human DNA doesnt reveal as much as you might think.

Our DNA, frankly, isnt that exciting for the most part, he said. Id much rather give you my DNA than my credit card records or my Google search records.

If thats the case, why do ancestry and other companies like it require a DNA license to join?

Money.

Greely says medical researchers and pharmaceutical companies routinely need DNA data to develop new products. Companies that have big DNA databases, like Ancestry, sell it to them.

Some of them get a fair amount of their revenue by selling the analysis of your DNA, Greely said.

Ancestrys website advertises that it has 3 million people in its DNA registry and boasts the world's largest consumer DNA database. Were unsure how lucrative that data is because the company is privately held and isnt obligated to publicly report how much it makes from selling DNA data.

We asked Ancestry for an interview. It declined.

In a statement to NBC Bay Area Responds the company said, We will not share DNA data with third party marketers, employers or insurance companies.

Ancestrys website currently tells users they have a choice to later delete your DNA test results or destroy your physical DNA saliva sample. Ancestry also says it stores users DNA sample without your name. Those statements are posted to its privacy page. However, theyre not in the contract you sign.

If it bothers you, if it offends, if youre worried about what might be in there, then you shouldnt sign this contract, Greely said.

Larry didnt sing up. He cancelled, because handing over his familys DNA to find his ancestors was just too much of a risk. Who knows, he said. What happens if five years from now Evil Corp. decides to buy up all this genetic information?

Professor Greely noted that DNA tests for genealogy are fairly cheap right now. Perhaps theres a reason for that. The low price consumers pay today might be subsidized by the future sale of their DNA data.

Greely said he could foresee DNA testing companies eventually offering a pricing model that employs a sliding scale: the privacy you want, the more you pay.

Published at 10:59 PM PDT on Apr 28, 2017 | Updated at 11:51 PM PDT on Apr 28, 2017

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DNA Test for Finding Ancestors Raises Privacy Concerns - NBC Bay Area

Ancient Origins

DNA Can Now be Extracted from Dirt! New Tech May Solve Many Mysteries of Human Origins Ancient Origins An amazing technological innovation in the study of DNA has been called a 'game changer' in the research into ancient humans and hominids. It may solve many of the mysteries that exist in relation to the origins of humans and could completely rewrite ...

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DNA Can Now be Extracted from Dirt! New Tech May Solve Many Mysteries of Human Origins - Ancient Origins

BBC News

DNA of extinct humans found in caves BBC News The DNA of extinct humans can be retrieved from sediments in caves - even in the absence of skeletal remains. Researchers found the genetic material in sediment samples collected from seven archaeological sites. The remains of ancient humans are often ... DNA From Extinct Humans Discovered in Cave DirtTIME Researchers Find DNA From Extinct Humans in Cave SedimentsSeeker Cave sediments yield DNA of early human relativesUPI.com New York Times -Science Daily -Science Magazine -Science all 39 news articles »

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DNA of extinct humans found in caves - BBC News

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MILWAUKEE A glimpse into the past using DNA. These days more and more people are choosing to unlock their family history by taking genetic tests. There are a number of tests, but does it matter which one you buy? FOX6's Contact 6 put three popular brands to the test -- AncestryDNA, Family Tree and 23andMe.

Robert Smith, an associate professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, agreed to help out Contact 6 and be the test subject.

"I'm curious because if we have the technology now to trace in that respect, I have to know," Smith said.

Robert Smith is an associate history professor at UW-Milwaukee.

Smith teaches history. So, it's interesting that he knows very little about his ancestral origins.

"I would assume from my darker skin that I have some amount of African-ness in me, but to what degree? But to what extent?" Smithwondered.

Contact 6 ordered three different tests. The AncestryDNA kit and the 23andMe kit both cost $99. The Family Tree kit usually costs $79, but Contact 6 got it on sale for $59.

For AncestryDNA and 23andMe, Smith had to fill a tube with spit.

Robert Smith fills a tube with spit to collect samples for 23andMe and AncestryDNA tests.

For the Family Tree test Smith used two swabs to scrape the inside of both cheeks.

Robert Smith swabs both sides of his mouth to collect a sample for the Family Tree DNA test.

Once the samples were collected, Contact 6 registered the tests online and mailed them.

Five weeks later, all three labs respond. Two of Smith's reports are ready. However, the AncestryDNA test had an error and needs to be redone. The company sends a free replacement kit and Smith retakes the test.

The second test from AncestryDNA took a couple months to process because it was sent in after Christmas and the lab says it was swamped.

More than two months later, it's time to share the results.

Contact 6 found the three tests were fairly consistent.

All three tests found Smith is about 73 percent African. More specifically, the tests reveal his roots are primarily west African -- about 65 percent.

AncestryDNA was the most specific.

"They broke it down as 25 percent Nigerian, 20 percent Cameroon or the Congo, 14 percent Senegal and, then, 12 percent Ivory Coast/Ghana," Contact 6's Jenna Sachs revealed to Smith.

"That's really interesting," Smithresponded.

The tests, also, found Smith 23 to 26 percent European -- primarily the British Isles.

"Some of the tests found you are about 15 percent Irish," Sachs told Smith.

"That's interesting. I didn't expect Irish," Smith said.

The tests can be explored more online.

On AncestryDNA's website, Smith learned his ancestors were likely among African slaves brought to North Carolina.

On Family Tree's website, a family finder tool correctly connected Smith to relative he knows and a few he doesn't.

The experience only reaffirmed Smith belief that American identities are a lot more complex and connected than many people think.

"This is all very important in determining where one sits in the world," Smith said.

Contact 6 reached out to each company to ask about the tests and the experience with each one.

Ancestry gave more insight into why the retake test took so long to get back and more information about their services. The company sent the following statement.

"Due to the incredibly high volume of kits we received after the holidays, lab processing is taking longer than the typical 68weeks. We are working to reduce wait times, and are happy to announce that we recently opened an additional lab to expand our capacity to process and analyze DNA samples."

Right now, what most people want from a DNA kit is the chance to better understand themselves and get some sense of an answer to the question of Who am I? Thats a powerful, emotional thing, and Ancestry wants to make that experience as rich and rewarding as possible.Ancestry DNA has the worlds largest consumer genomics network with more than 3 million people. This network in combination with the billions of records and millions of family trees on Ancestry enables us to provide people with deeply meaningful insights about who they are and where they come from. As the Ancestry DNA database grows, people can greatly benefit as the network effect enables us to deliver insights that are not possible to uncover with smaller databases."

Family Tree sent Contact 6 the following statement about their services:

"Founded in 2000, Family Tree DNA pioneeredthe field ofgenetic genealogythe use of DNA testing to establish relationships between individuals and determine ancestry. As the very first company to develop and deliver direct-to-consumer DNA testing for genealogical purposes,our premier suite of DNA products and tools are designed to help customers uncover family history, find genetic matches and connect with relatives across all of their ancestral lines. What sets Family Tree DNA apart is not only that we established the industry, but the fact that we offer testing for all three types of DNA: Y-Chromosome (paternal), mitochondrial (maternal) and autosomal DNA (a combination of both). Other companies in this space provide only autosomal DNA testing, but our broad selection of Y-DNA, mtDNA and autosomal DNA tests are the most advanced available, and all processed in our own state-of-the-art genomics laboratory in Houston, Texas.While other companies have a single database for finding DNA matches, Family Tree DNA has the worlds most comprehensive DNA matching database, covering Y-DNA, mtDNA and autosomal DNA matches. By combining a wide range of DNA products with cutting-edge technology, we provide industry-leading tools for consumers to explore their family history and gain further insight into their genetic ancestryand all with a simple swab of DNA. "

23andMe sent Contact 6 the following statement about their services:

"23andMe is the first and only genetic service available directly to consumers that includes reports that meet FDA standards for clinical and scientific validity. We offer our Ancestry Service as a standalone product for $99 USD. The service features 23andMes pioneering Ancestry Composition analysis, enabling customers to trace their lineage to 31 populations worldwide through their DNA. The service also includes DNA Relatives, an optional tool matching willing customers with close or distant relatives based on shared DNA. Ninety-five percent of 23andMe customers participating in DNA Relatives connect with a third degree cousin or closer relative. And for customers interested in ancient ancestors, our Neanderthal report tells people how much Neanderthal DNA they have. The genetic ancestry service analyzes genetic variants across all chromosomes to provide a breakdown of global ancestry by percentages. The average customer can trace their DNA to at least 5 different populations from around the world. Customers will also have their 23 pairs of chromosomes painted a color-coded digital sketch unraveling your DNA, detailing the amount, or length, of specific ancestry on each chromosome. Our flagship Health + Ancestry Service includes the full Ancestry service and an additional 70+ genetic reports on carrier status, wellness and physical traits for $199 USD. We analyze, compile and distill the information extracted from your DNA into reports you can access online. You can learn about your carrier status for certain diseases, like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia. You can also learn how genetics affect your diet, such as caffeine consumption, response to saturated fats, ability to digest lactose, and more. Additionally, we tell you how your DNA influences physical traits, such as muscle type, sense of taste and smell, hair type, eye color, etc. A full list of 23andMe reports is available here. Both products include access to 23andMe Research, where interested individuals can consent to participate in a series of research surveys, from your home computer or mobile device, that can help drive scientific and medical discoveries."

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Unlocking the past: Contact 6 tests three popular DNA kits - fox6now.com

A close-up of Celestis capsules and modules, containing DNA and cremated remains, posed with coins for scale.

The company that sells launch services for cremated remains is offering a new way for you to send a bit of yourself or your loved ones to space with the added bonus that you don't have to be dead to participate.

Houston-based Celestis on Friday (April 21) unveiled a new service that will put samples of DNA into space.

Company founder Charles Chafer said that flying genetic material is a way for people who don't choose cremation to participate in a memorial spaceflight. Another option is for the deceased's DNA to fly with the DNA of family and friends, whether living or deceased. [Ashes of Star Trek's 'Scotty' Ride Private Rocket Into Space]

The service will also provide a tangible, symbolic spaceflight experience for the living, and a way to put DNA into long-term storage off Earth. Prices range from $1,295 to $12,500, depending on where the DNA is sent. Prices range from $1,295 to $12,500, depending on where the DNA is sent. Thecompany's websitecurrently offers customers four flight options: a suborbital launch and return to Earth; a launch into Earth orbit, with eventual incineration during atmospheric re-entry; a flight to the moon (surface or lunar orbit); or a one-way journey beyond the moon.

Celestis capsules and modules being prepared for flight.

"We launch approximately one gram, which is enough to contain the entire genome," said Celestis spokeswoman Pazia Schonfeld.

The DNA will be processed into a powder and packaged into a capsule that looks like a large watch battery.

Celestis has been sending small capsules of cremated remains to space since 1997. So far, the company has launched more than 1,200 capsules during 14 spaceflight missions, and more than 200 capsules are ready to fly, the company said.

Celestis and Surrey Satellite Technology staff next to the orbital test bed after completing Flight Capsule Payload Integration I.

So far, five people have signed up for DNA flight services, including Sarah Green, 38, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Green plans to fly some of her late father's DNA, along with some of her own.

"It's a cool way to take this journey through space and time together and honor him," Green told Space.com.

"My father was a science-fiction aficionado and a huge "Doctor Who" fan," she said. "He had this philosophy about life, that money and things, they come and go, but time is our most precious resource."

A Surrey Satellite Technology engineer integrates participant capsules and modules into the vessel that will carry them.

"It's interesting, this notion of sending genetic material to space to expand the imprint of humanity," she added.

Celestis' first flight of DNA samples is slated to take off in September aboard a suborbital rocket launching from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

The company is working with Ontario's CG Labs to process DNA samples to turn them into flight-ready silicate powder.

The vessel containing Celestis flight capsules is attached to the orbital test bed, located between the blue cylinders.

"Throughout the history of the universe, DNA molecules have traversed space, perhaps seeding life throughout the cosmos," Chafer said in a statement.

"Humans have begun to contribute to this process [by] sequencing DNA aboard the International Space Station; testing DNA's ability to withstand re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on the exterior of a rocket; and transmitting the human DNA code to distant stars as part of interstellar radio transmissions," he said. "Now, we are pleased to offer the chance for anyone to join these missions of purpose."

Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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Send Your DNA to Space and Back via New Service - Space.com

On May 6, at the 143rd Kentucky Derby, 20 thoroughbred horses will gallop along a 1.25-mile stretch. Even the slowest racer should cross the finish line in abouttwo minutes. The thoroughbreds are not onlyquicker than ancient wild horses, they are also remarkably different from the domesticated animals that nomads rode across the Asian steppe just2,300 years ago.

At some point in the pasttwo millennia peanuts on an evolutionary time scale humans transformed their horsesinto equinespeed demons. Selective breedinghad a price, though, beyond $30,000 vials of pedigreed racehorse sperm. Unhelpful mutationsplagued the animals. The current population of domesticated horses is about 55 million, but at some point in their history, their genetic diversity crashed. The Y chromosomes ofall the world's stallions are now quite similar, suggesting that only a relatively few males were the ancestors of today's horses.

[Why these researchers think humans came to North America 130,000 years ago]

Humans have not always bred so selectively, according to a study published in the journal Science on Thursday. Horse domestication began about 5,500 years ago. Ancient equestrians were not interested in superfast animals. They were more interested in diversity and potential, saidLudovic Orlando, a professor of molecular archaeology at the University of Copenhagen'sNatural History Museum of Denmark and an author of the new study.

Orlando and his colleagues sequenced the genomes of 14 ancient horses: one 4,100-year-old mare and 13 stallions, whichdated back 2,700 to 2,300 years. The stallions, ridden by the nomadic Scythians, had genes linked to an array of coat colors and traits associated with endurance or sprinting, as well as many diverse Y chromosomes.

Orlando and his colleagues chose to sequence Scythian stallionsfor several reasons: The animals livedabout halfway through the 5,500-year timeline of horse domestication. The horses also offered a ready supply of genetic material. To honor their royalty, Scythians sacrificed animals from many different tribes and buried the remains in underground chambers in what is now Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan's permafrost kept ancient DNA fresh. Its like we had a natural freezer waiting for us for 2,300 years, Orlando said. In places, the scientists dug up not just tooth and bone material buthairs. Some horse skulls still wore the decorationstheir owners had created millennia ago.

Scythians had a reputation as bloodthirsty warriors literally. The Greek historian Herodotus wrotethat the Scythian soldier drinks the blood of the first man he overthrows in battle out of a cup made from a humanskull. But skullmugs or no, they were excellent horsemen.They mastered the horse like no others before them, Orlando said.

(The Scythians probably also drank horse milk. DNA analysis of the frozen stallions suggestedthat the Scythians bred some horses for enlarged mammary glands.)

[For some failed racehorses, theres another course to pursue]

Some, but not all, of their horses carried genetic variants seen in today's sprinting horses. Asingle gene mutationcan dictatea horse'sgait how motor neurons connect to muscle tissues allows an animal to amble. Ambling gaits have a four-step pattern, bringing the legs of the same side together for a smoother ride. The scientists could test whether Scythianscared about breeding for a more comfortable ride: The nomads did not.

Among the sacrificed were horses with bay, spotted,chestnut, black and cream-colored coats. The variety of coat colors still found in Kazakhstan today supported what is known as the neural crest hypothesis, Orlando said.

As a rule,domesticated mammals developcoats of varied colors and floppy ears; this is sometimes called the domestication syndrome. In Russia, for instance, a decades-long experiment to tame the fox has produced animalswith droopy ears and shorter, curlier tails. Biologists proposed that a pool of cells called the neural crest, which pops up in animal embryos and turns intotissues like skin and ear cartilage, might explain why different species grow similar traits.

[This 508-million-year-old sea predator had a remarkable mouth]

DNA from the Scythian horses was some of thefirst empirical evidence that supports the neural crest hypothesis, Orlando sad.

What's more, for the first 3,000 years of domestication, horse breeders were able to keep unhelpful mutations at bay. Modern horses have several nasty mutations, Orlando said, thatmake some animals prone to seizures or wounds that won't heal, for instance.

But something happened to horses on the way from the Kazakhsteppe to Churchill Downs: Somehow,breeders swept awayhorse genetic diversity. Orlando istrying to figure out why. He offeredthree likely scenarios for when hyperselective breeding eliminated diversity from the gene pool in the quest for specialized traits.Perhaps it was the fault of the Roman Empire and itshorses. Or perhaps horse breeders in the Middle Ages were highly selective. Or maybe the rise of themodern racehorse in18th-century Britain did the horse genome in.

Orlando is more interested in history than in rewinding the harmful effects of domestication, which he said would be a fruitless effort. We cannot give lessons to modern breeders, Orlando said. Its not like they have a different population to choose from.

And yet the history of horses is no idle thing. It is our history, Orlando argues. I believe horses are the most important domesticated animal in history, hesaid.Without horses, the history of warfare would be different, and therefore the history of humanity.

He cited cavalry, chariots and accomplished equestrians like Alexander the Great who became ancient leaders. Chickens kept us fed, and dogs kept us company. Horses, though, allowedhumans to travel faster and farther, not only spreading our descendants to other lands, but our ideas and cultures, too.

Read more:

In horse communication, twitchy ears may be key

Could ancient horse poop solve a huge historical mystery?

The surprising, adorable thing that goats and puppies have in common

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Long-frozen DNA shows how humans made horses faster and more likely to get sick - Washington Post

Scientists have extracted DNA from the skeletal remains of several 19th-century sailors who died during the ill-fated Franklin Expedition, whose goal was to navigate the fabled Northwest Passage.

With a new genetic database of 24 expedition members, researchers hope they'll be able to identify some of the bodies scattered in the Canadian Arctic, 170 years after one of the worst disasters in the history of polar exploration.

The results were published April 20 in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

Led by Sir John Franklin, a British Royal Navy captain, the 129-member crew embarked in 1845 in search of a sea route that would link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The sailors were doomed after their ships became trapped in thick sea ice in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in 1846. [In Photos: Arctic Shipwreck Solves 170-Year-Old Mystery]

The last communication, a short note from April 25, 1848, indicated that the surviving men were abandoning their ships the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror just off King William Island and embarking on a harsh journey south toward a trading post on the mainland. None of them seems to have made it even a fifth of the way there.

Over more than a century, search parties and scientists have discovered the remains of several Franklin sailors in boats and makeshift campsites scattered along this route. The bones bear scars of diseases like scurvy. Some even have the signatures of cannibalism,according to one recent study that confirmed the 19th-century reports of Inuit witnesses who had described piles of fractured human bones. Several artifacts from the HMS Erebus, including a medicine bottle and tunic buttons, as well as the ship's bronze bell , have also been uncovered.

In the latest look at the array of bones, a team led by Douglas Stenton of Nunavut's Department of Culture and Heritage, a territory in northern Canada, conducted the first genetic tests on members of the expedition who died following the desertion of the ships.

Stenton and his colleagues were able to get DNA from 37 bone and tooth samples found at eight different sites around King William Island, and they established the presence of at least 24 different members of the expedition. Twenty-one of these individuals had been found at locations around Canada's Erebus Bay, "confirming it as a location of some importance following the desertion of Erebus and Terror," Stenton told Live Science.

The researchers say their results offer a more accurate count of the number of expedition members who died at different locations. A few of the early fatalities were buried at Beechey Island and their frozen remains, which were exhumed by archaeologists in the 1980s, were eerily well-preserved. The bones of the sailors who died after abandoning the ships, however, were much more scattered, dispersed by animal scavenging and human activity.

Stenton said that, in one case, bones from the same individual were found at two different sites about a mile from each other. The researchers think that an 1879 search party most likely found some of the bones, and then carried them to the new site and reburied them.

Stenton and colleagues hope they will eventually be able to use the database to identify the crew members and better reconstruct what happened in the final months of the expedition.

"We have been in touch with several descendants who have expressed interest in participating in further research," Stenton said. "We hope that the publication of our initial study will encourage other descendants to also consider participating."

Four samples in the study were identified as female, which doesn't fit with the picture of an all-male expedition crew. The authors ruled out the possibility that these samples came from Inuit women because the genetic and archaeological evidence associated with these four individuals also suggests they were European. [Tales of the 9 Craziest Ocean Voyages]

"We were surprised by the results for those samples because in planning the analysis it hadn't occurred to us that there might have been women on board," Stenton told Live Science.

Stenton and his colleagues think the most likely explanation for this discrepancy is that ancient DNA studies commonly fail to amplify the Y chromosome (the male sex chromosome) due to insufficient quantity or quality of DNA, which can result in false female identifications of the dead. However, the researchers noted that it wasn't unheard of for women to serve in disguise in the Royal Navy.

"Some of these women were smuggled onboard [the] ship, and others disguised themselves as men and worked alongside the crew for months or years before being detected or intentionally revealing themselves to be female," the authors wrote.

They cited cases such as Mary Anne Talbot, who served on two Navy ships during the Napoleonic wars of the 18th century before being found out after being wounded. Unfortunately, Stenton said he doesn't think it will be possible to definitively say whether the four Franklin samples are really just false results, but his team concluded that it would have been very unlikely for so many women to be serving secretly on this voyage.

Original article on Live Science.

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Frozen in time: DNA may ID sailors looking for Northwest Passage in ... - Fox News