25-01-2026, 10:06 PM
I thought this article was interesting and relevant:
Medieval Manuscripts Are a DNA Smorgasbord You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
"Researchers are finding animal DNA in the parchment pages as well as genetic fingerprints from humans (like kissing priests)"
"they've been able to draw out the DNA and proteins of the animal that sourced the parchment as well as that of any bookworms and humans that had come in contact with the page since"
"Gibbons also reports that 20 percent of the DNA extracted from the York Gospels was human— most of it from the bacteria that lived on the skin and noses of priests who took an oath by kissing certain pages."
"it’s even possible to find the DNA of specific historical individuals who handled a book during their lifetime."
Medieval Manuscripts Are a DNA Smorgasbord You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
"Researchers are finding animal DNA in the parchment pages as well as genetic fingerprints from humans (like kissing priests)"
"they've been able to draw out the DNA and proteins of the animal that sourced the parchment as well as that of any bookworms and humans that had come in contact with the page since"
"Gibbons also reports that 20 percent of the DNA extracted from the York Gospels was human— most of it from the bacteria that lived on the skin and noses of priests who took an oath by kissing certain pages."
"it’s even possible to find the DNA of specific historical individuals who handled a book during their lifetime."