Da Vinci's Living Descendants: Dna Confirms Family Lineage

DNA testing has confirmed the genetic continuity of the male line within the da Vinci family. A study published in the book *Genìa Da Vinci* revealed that Leonardo da Vinci has at least six living male descendants. These descendants share his Y chromosome. An international team of scholars identified the Y chromosome shared by these descendants of the paternal line. Researchers Alessandro Vezzosi [alɛˈssandro vetˈtsoːzi] and Agnese Sabato [aɲˈɲeze ˈsaːbato] reconstituted branches of the family. They traced genealogical links to Leonardo's father and half-brother, Domenico di ser Piero da Vinci [doˈmeːniko di sser ˈpjɛːro da ˈvintʃi]. The analysis revealed that these descendants have common portions of the Y chromosome. This is an essential marker for determining male inheritance. This confirms the genetic continuity of the male line of the da Vinci family starting from the 15th generation. The book *Genìa Da Vinci* documents a family tree that dates back to 1331. It encompasses 21 generations and includes more than 400 individuals. The volume provides an account of the da Vinci family lineage, offering readers a journey through genealogy, history, geography, documents, places, and historical figures to rediscover the environment that shaped Leonardo. Archaeological excavations have started in the Church of Santa Croce [ˈsanta ˈkroːtʃe] in Vinci [ˈvintʃi]. This church is historically documented as the burial place of the da Vinci family. Anthropologists are trying to identify the DNA of Leonardo da Vinci and his ancestors. The Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project was launched in 2016. It is supported by the Municipality of Vinci and coordinated by Rockefeller University in New York. The research aims to shed light on the biological traits of the Renaissance master.