Richard III DNA to Be Sequenced: Previously Unknown Details of the King Will Soon Be Revealed
BySoon enough, the world will definitely know Richard III's hair color, eye color and other physical attributes, as scientists announced they will sequence his DNA.
According to BBC News, the University of Leicester team that identified the remains will undertake the DNA mapping project. Richard III's skeleton remains were found in a Leicester parking lot in 2012.
The project has a certain level of significance since all portraits of Richard III were done after his death and his appearance has never been known for certain. He was the King of England from June 1483 to August 1485, when he died in the Battle of Bosworth Field. His grave was then lost when the nearby church was destroyed.
"It is an extremely rare occurrence that archaeologists are involved in the excavation of a known individual, let alone a king of England," Leicester genetics expert Dr. Turi King told BBC News. "You can actually look across his entire genetic make-up and say something about his ancestry - it is likely he was northern European."
The research will also tell scientists if Richard III was either affected by or had a predisposition to diseases like diabetes, heart disease or scoliosis. The sequencing is not likely to help people try and trace their lineage to the King.
"It is an extremely rare occurrence that archaeologists are involved in the excavation of a known individual, let alone a king of England," King said in a press release. "At the same time we are in the midst of a new age of genetic research, with the ability to sequence entire genomes from ancient individuals and with them, those of pathogens that may have caused infectious disease. Sequencing the genome of Richard III is a hugely important project that will help to teach us not only about him, but ferment discussion about how our DNA informs our sense of identity, our past and our future."
King did tell CNN that further research may be able to give a more accurate look for people determining their lineage, as the results will be available to the public. She also said future research could detail Richard III's temperament.