While the prospect is interesting, it really seems a bit over enthusiastic First, the difficulty of obtaining a sample. How much ink would need to be removed to find a sufficient sample? Maybe the parchment maker left his DNA behind. Would Beineke ever agree? Seems doubtful -as - apparently - they have restricted access to the text.
DNA degrades at a rate dependent on conditions. Heat and moisture increase the rate. At a minimum, it doesn't last forever.
Even if every problem above were resolved. Can't stop degradation. And if the VMs author had descendants living today. How many generations would that be? With every generation, 50% of that original person's DNA is 'lost'. Then, whatever it is that remains (Which bit is it exactly?), this will identify a person (or persons), who may or may not exist in the historical record. Kinda hard to see how that works.
Here's a thought: Can we get the Duke of Berry's DNA off the Duke of Berry's books????? Or Burgundy, or whatever? Or maybe we could find Jean d'Arras in his book on Melisine?
And do we really have the Duke's DNA? Has this ever been done??
DNA degrades at a rate dependent on conditions. Heat and moisture increase the rate. At a minimum, it doesn't last forever.
Even if every problem above were resolved. Can't stop degradation. And if the VMs author had descendants living today. How many generations would that be? With every generation, 50% of that original person's DNA is 'lost'. Then, whatever it is that remains (Which bit is it exactly?), this will identify a person (or persons), who may or may not exist in the historical record. Kinda hard to see how that works.
Here's a thought: Can we get the Duke of Berry's DNA off the Duke of Berry's books????? Or Burgundy, or whatever? Or maybe we could find Jean d'Arras in his book on Melisine?
And do we really have the Duke's DNA? Has this ever been done??