Laboratory News
First Century Burial Shroud and Disease Found in Jerusalem Tomb
(December 16, 2009 – Thunder Bay, ON) Dr. Carney Matheson, Scientific Officer of the Lakehead University Paleo-DNA Laboratory as well as Anthropology Professor at Lakehead, is involved in another investigation of ancient DNA that could have significant implications. Dr. Matheson co-authored a new research paper that has just been published in PLoS ONE, a scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science. The paper presents scientific research conducted on “The Tomb of the Shroud,” – a tomb found in Jerusalem dating back to the time of Jesus.
This rock-hewn burial cave, originally discovered by an archaeological team led by Shimon Gibson, Boaz Zissu, and James Tabor, belongs to a cemetery known as Akeldama or “Field of Blood,” as described in the Bible (cf. Matthew 27:3-8; Acts 1:19), and located in the lower Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem. In comparison to more than 70 other tombs in the Akeldama area, this particular tomb is unique as it contains remnants of a burial shroud and evidence of leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and tuberculosis in the shrouded male remains within it. This is the oldest known case of leprosy with confirmed dates and molecular evidence. Some of the other individuals in this multi-chambered tomb showed signs of tuberculosis, and ancient human DNA was detected to piece together the family relationships.
The molecular investigation of the first century shrouded man was led by Professor Charles Greenblatt of the Hebrew University, first conducted at the Hebrew University’s Kuvin Centre for Tropical and Infectious Disease and later replicated at Lakehead University’s Paleo-DNA Laboratory. Additional work was conducted by Helen Donoghue at the London -based University College’s Centre for Infectious Diseases and International Health.....continued....
Remarkably, no other first century tomb from Jerusalem had hitherto been examined by molecular methods. “The discovery of the presence of M. tuberculosis and M. leprae in the individuals buried within the "Tomb of the Shroud" is significant in understanding the geographical and temporal distribution of tuberculosis and leprosy in antiquity,” explains Dr. Matheson. “This research is evidence that molecular pathology clearly adds a new dimension to the archaeological exploration of disease in ancient times, and it showcases the world-class forensic work on ancient human DNA undertaken at Lakehead's Paleo-DNA laboratory.”
The successful genetic analysis of unique archaeological sites such as "Tomb of the Shroud" poses great promise for future investigations into host-pathogen relationships and evolution, geographic distribution, and epidemiology of disease and social health in antiquity.
Click here to read the research paper in full.
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Media: Please note that this information has been released following embargo requests from international media. However, Dr. Matheson is not available for face-to-face media interview until December 19 when he returns to Thunder Bay from a research expedition. Until that time, he will be returning calls and emails from Havana when possible. His Havana-based telephone number is 011-537-838-0294 (room 302) and he can be reached from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m., as well as 9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily. He’ll also be checking emails sent to his cmatheso@lakeheadu.ca account at 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily. As of December 19, Dr. Matheson can be reached in Thunder Bay at 807-577-8393. For more information, please contact Communications Officer Heather Scott at 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Director of Communications Eleanor Abaya at 807-343-8372 or eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.
About Lakehead University and its Paleo-DNA Laboratory
Lakehead is a comprehensive University with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. The Paleo-DNA Laboratory is a leader in human mitochondrial DNA analysis. The only Canadian university laboratory accredited by ISO17025 for forensic DNA testing, it is known for its commitment to education, research, services, training, quality assurance and control standards, and reliable results. Established in 1996, it was the first to offer a DNA training course emphasizing mitochondrial DNA analysis, and one of the first Canadian laboratories to develop mitochondrial DNA analysis techniques. Every spring, students from across the globe travel to Thunder Bay, Ontario, to receive specialized training in mitochondrial DNA methods. Lakehead University’s Paleo-DNA Laboratory is the only facility in the world that offers this training program. For more information on Lakehead’s Paleo-DNA Laboratory, please visit www.ancientdna.com.
About PLos ONE
PLoS ONE is the first journal of primary research from all areas of science to employ a combination of peer review and post-publication rating and commenting, to maximize the impact of every report it publishes. PLoS ONE is published by the Public Library of Science (PLoS), the open-access publisher whose goal is to make the world’s scientific and medical literature a public resource.
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The following article appeared on the front page of the Chronicle Journal
on Monday August 25, 2008:
PALEO-DNA LAB A JEWEL IN THUNDER BAY'S CROWN
LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY - RESEARCH SERIES
Special to the Chronicle-Journal
Paleo-DNA Lab: A Jewel in Thunder Bay’s Crown
by Tim Anderson
Move over CSI, Northwestern Ontario has the real deal: Lakehead University’s Paleo-DNA Laboratory. It would surprise most Thunder Bay residents to know that the forensic marvels seen on television can be found right here at home. The Paleo-DNA Lab, or PDL, is a world-class facility capable of performing DNA analyses on .....
For the complete story, please click here: http://communications.lakeheadu.ca/news/?display=news&nid=492
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LU LAB CALLED ON AGAIN TO CHECK ANCIENT DNA
By Lindsay Lafraugh
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A Thunder Bay DNA expert was in New York City on Monday to discuss findings that could help researchers prove that Jesus did marry Mary Magdalene and that they had children. Lakehead University‘s Paleo DNA Laboratory operations supervisor Renee Fratpietro joined English filmmaker Bruce Burgess in the Big Apple to discuss his film “Bloodline”,…
For the full Chronicle Journal story, click here.
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Paleo-DNA Laboratory highlighted in the Winter 2007 issue
of Lab Business Magazine
Article Exerpt:
Lakehead’s Paleo-DNA Laboratory
Modern genetics solves ancient mysteries
By Erica Tennenhouse
Few labs can boast that they have analyzed what might be the DNA of Jesus Christ himself. But earlier this year, the Paleo-DNA Laboratory at Lakehead University was challenged with exactly that task, when bones from the Talpiot Tomb near Jerusalem, deemed by archaeologists to likely have belonged to Jesus and Mary Magdalene, were shipped off to the lab.
Stephen Fratpietro, technical manager of the lab,
explains that... click here for full article
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