Shroud of Turing. Credit: CC0, Public Domain
New research has uncovered the complex biological history preserved within DNA traces found on the Shroud of Turin, offering fresh insights into one of the world's most studied and debated historical artifacts.
Published in Scientific Reports, the study is the first to apply advanced genomic sequencing methods (rigorous PCR-free next-generation metagenomic sequencing) to official samples collected from the Shroud in 1978. By analyzing genomic DNA preserved within the linen fibers, the research offers the most comprehensive picture to date of the biological signatures left behind through centuries of human contact and biological exposure.
Noemi Procopio, professor of forensic science at the University of Lancashire, participated in the research, which was part of a collaborative international project. It identified multiple human mitochondrial DNA lineages, alongside a rich microbiome consisting of bacteria, fungi and salt-loving microorganisms.
DNA traces from cultivated plants, domesticated animals and Mediterranean red coral were also detected, highlighting the diverse environments and people the Shroud has come into contact with throughout its history.
