Scientists sequenced the oldest Egyptian DNA
- Feb 16
- 2 min read
Student summary by Olivia Hwang
Original Source: Kasha Patel, The Washington Post, July 2, 2025.
Abstract
Background:
Scientists have only successfully sequenced partial genomes from a few ancient Egyptians due to poor DNA preservation. A full genome of an ancient Egyptian had never been sequenced before, leaving a gap in knowledge about ancient Egyptian history.
Objective:
With newer technology, scientists hoped to successfully analyze the genome of an ancient Egyptian man whose remains are housed at the World Museum Liverpool.
Method:
The scientists extracted DNA from the ancient Egyptian man’s dental tissue; however, only some of the samples were preserved well enough to be analyzed. Nonetheless, they were still able to compare the results to those of other ancient and present-day humans. They also examined the skeleton of the ancient Egyptian man to learn more about him.
Result:
After analysis, scientists concluded that the genome showed about 80% ancestry from North Africa and about 20% from the Near East (including regions such as Mesopotamia). They realized that the people of ancient Egypt sometimes mixed with other populations during that time period. They found that he lived quite a long time for his era, as he lived to his mid-60s. They also found signs of osteoporosis in his bones, realized that he had arthritis, found evidence that he squatted frequently, and discovered that he likely held his hands out in front of him for long periods of time. Scientists suggested that the ancient Egyptian man was probably a potter.
Conclusion:
This is the first time that scientists have successfully sequenced the full genome of an ancient Egyptian individual, and this new technology could be used to uncover even more about ancient history.
