Posted on 10/16/2013 7:52:31 AM PDT by Theoria
No next-of-kin was around to claim the frozen 5,300-year-old body of Ötzi the Iceman when it was found in the Italian Alps in 1991, but researchers now report that there are at least 19 genetic relatives of Ötzi living in Austria's Tyrol region.
"These men and the 'Iceman' had the same ancestors," Walther Parson, a researcher at the Institute for Forensic Medicine in Innsbruck, told the Austrian Press Agency last week.
The relatives may not know they're related, however. The Austrian researchers haven't told them.
They found the 19 genetic matches by looking through the DNA records of 3,700 Austrian blood donors for a rare Y-chromosome mutation known as G-L91. The mutation is a reliable marker for ancestral relationships, because it tends to be passed down intact from one generation to the next. But because it's on the Y sex chromosome, the marker can be used only to trace male ancestry.
Parson and his colleagues are using genetic markers to get a better sense of how different populations spread throughout the Alpine regions. So far, their research suggest that migration patterns favored Austria's Pillersattel pass over the Landeck district in prehistoric times, Parson told APA.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
Ötzi the Iceman
Oh yeah sure like *they* know what his first, middle and last name is. What, did he have his ID on him? Ötzi T. Iceman?
I thought Otzi was DJ Otsi, the Austrian musician who enjoys doing Bellamy Brothers remixers?
“Ötzi the Iceman was a jolly happy soul . . . “
I love this story, but (as usual) they ignore all the mothers.
Unfair to all the Icewomen out there somewhere in the Alps.
Sort of a dumb move. Isn’t this just going to result in an avalanche of lawsuits from the “relatives?” Just prove you carry the mutation and claim a portion of all financial proceeds from the Otzi Museum which runs into the millions of Euros. There’s no shortage of slimy lawyers to make the attempt at asset recovery.
He probably had claim to lots of land...I would take that angle
Someone will jump up with his g g g g g g g g g granddaughter...unfortunately father was cremated...all she wants is monies from all the researchers
LMFAO!!
Distant cousin of Quinn the Eskimo.
Ice women don’t count
They were all frigid!!
...there are at least 19 genetic relatives of Ötzi living in Austria's Tyrol region... They found the 19 genetic matches by looking through the DNA records of 3,700 Austrian blood donors for a rare Y-chromosome mutation known as G-L91. The mutation is a reliable marker for ancestral relationships, because it tends to be passed down intact from one generation to the next.Ötzi schmutz.
Reparations for killing the ice-people!
I’m Dutch! I count!
GIMME MY PIECE!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
