REVIEW: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: KING TUT’S DNA; Unlocking Family Secrets

REVIEW: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

KING TUT’S DNA

Unlocking Family Secrets

Who were King Tutankhamun’s parents? What ailments did he suffer (and ultimately die) from? What family secrets are hidden in the young pharao’s DNA? These are some of the questions that Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s head archaeologist, seeks to answer.

Hawass’ passion for archaeology is evident from the beginning of the article. He expresses his respect for the mummies and a brief family history of King Tut. The DNA experts have 10 mummies, and geneticists must extract DNA from deep inside the bone tissue in different locations. This is necessary because the mummies have been in the tombs together for over 3,000 years and it is to avoid cross-contamination with each other, the people who first mummified the bodies, geneticists, and anyone who handled the mummies in the past. Hawass explains the science of DNA in a fast, efficient way to understand the methods they will use so there is no confusion.

King Tut is suspected to have been born out of incest, which was not uncommon in royal families. Tut’s biological parents are thought to be Akhenaten and a mummy known as the “Younger Lady” who is mother to Tutankhamun and full sister to Akhenaten. DNA experts proved Tut’s parents were siblings, and it explains why he died at the tender age of 19. Tut suffered from a club foot and a partial cleft lip; both deformations that could result from incest. Results from his DNA test showed he could have died from malaria. Malaria was a common disease at the time, but he may not have had the immune system to overcome it.

There were fetuses tested which may have been King Tutankhamun’s daughter’s with Ankhesenamun, his wife. Her identity is also somewhat of a mystery, but after DNA testing it is sure that the fetuses are Tut’s daughters.

Overall, it was fascinating to find out more about King Tut’s family history from a scientific point of view. There was not much information about his discovery in 1922. However, Hawass does mention that Tutankhamun’s tomb went undiscovered for so long because his tomb was smaller than others. He ends with Ramses the Great in a new dynasty with hopes for better times ahead.