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The quest for Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA

The quest for Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA

60-Second Science vor 8 Monaten

Researchers are using cutting‑edge DNA techniques to hunt for genetic evidence in centuries‑old artworks in an effort to better understand the genius of Leonardo da Vinci

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In this episode of Science Quickly, host Kendra Pierre-Louis speaks
with forensic scientist Rhonda Roby about an ambitious effort to
uncover traces of Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA using modern forensic
techniques. Roby and her colleagues are carefully sampling
centuries‑old artworks, working with extremely small amounts of
biological material, to learn more about Leonardo himself and the
history of his art while also advancing methods that could one day
help authenticate artworks. The episode explores how forensic
approaches typically used in criminal investigations are being
applied to a 500‑year‑old historical puzzle. Recommended Reading:
The Race to Find Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA Just Took a Major Twist
“The real da Vinci code,” by Richard Stone, in Science, Vol. 391;
January 8, 2026 E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have
any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American
and sign up for our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced
by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff
DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with
fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music
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