For weeks now you have been reading here at Em Hotep! about the genetic testing done on two fetuses found in the tomb of Tutankhamun by Howard Carter in 1922, and the implications this may have for the genetic mapping of the Eighteenth Dynasty.

“And they’re about to become newsworthy,” Hawass’ spokesperson, Jill Lynch, told The Sacramento Bee today, “This fall, Dr. Zahi Hawass is going to announce the results of a DNA study that will determine the parenthood of the two fetuses…”

Originating story:  “Spotlight on Exhibits,” The Sacramento Bee.  [Story no longer online]

The results of the testing could be a significant step toward identifying other members of Tut’s royal family, such as his wife Ankhesenamun, and even Nefertiti herself (for the complete backstory on this read The Year of Nefertiti: Will Zahi Hawass’ Final Year at the SCA be a Last Dance with a Queen?, here on Em Hotep!).

Questions will undoubtedly be raised regarding the reliability of the samples and the testing methodology.  During his lecture at Clowes Hall at Indianapolis this summer (read my summary and analysis on Heritage Key) Dr. Hawass announced that the original results had been confirmed by a German lab, and that he was in the process of submitting both results to an unnamed journal for peer review.  In the Sacramento Bee article he only mentions two unnamed “DNA analysis laboratories” and makes no mention of peer review, so it will be interesting to watch this story unfold.

Accordingto the Bee, Dr. Hawass will announce the results of the tests “in the next few weeks.”

Copyright by Keith Payne, 2009.  All rights reserved.

Tags: Ankhesenamun, Forensic Mummy Studies, Genetic Mapping, Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Zahi Hawass