Discovering the paternity of Columbus
Did you know that Christopher Columbus’s origins are unknown?
Theories about his home and family have been debated for more than 500 years, and even today, scientists are trying to uncover his past. Through DNA testing, scientists are attempting to biologically connect alleged descendents of Columbus in hopes of identifying his birthplace and family.
The paternity of Columbus could be one of many different theories: He was a Genoese son of a wool-weaver; he was born out of wedlock to a Portuguese prince; he was a Jew whose parents converted to escape the Spanish Inquisition. The debate continues, but one scientist has collected buccal swabs for DNA testing from hundreds of Spaniards, Italians, Portuguese, and Frenchmen in an attempt to uncover a clue. He believes that by biologically connecting people through their DNA, he may be able to shed a little light on this international mystery.
If Columbus had been born in the present day, he could simply order a DNA paternity test from Beta Genetics and collect his own DNA sample and the samples of his alleged father(s) or family members to identify a biological relationship. Of course, history may have been written a little differently if he weren’t alive in the 15th century to make his transatlantic voyages…
Regardless the outcome of his paternity test, Columbus remains an international hero to many around the world. Happy Columbus Day!
This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pm and is filed under Home Paternity Tests.
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