Overview
- Researchers used minimally invasive swabs on the red‑chalk Holy Child and 15th‑century da Vinci family letters, recovering mostly microbial and plant DNA with limited male‑specific human signals.
- Y‑chromosome fragments from both objects group within the broad E1b1/E1b1b lineage associated with Tuscany, suggesting a possible family link rather than proof of Leonardo’s own DNA.
- Independent experts note the dataset is small, the age of the DNA was not authenticated, and contamination or later handling cannot yet be excluded.
- The team reports ancillary biological clues, including citrus and willow traces on Holy Child and a malaria parasite signal on a family letter, and says it ruled out DNA from the drawing’s modern owner.
- Project leaders plan further comparisons using living male‑line descendants, bones from family vaults, additional manuscripts and a purported lock of hair as they seek peer review and broader access to verified works.