Da Vinci Code and Jesus's DNA

[Princess Sophie]

I was too young to read the Da Vinci Code when it came out . I finished it a couple of weeks ago a I've just finished reading Holy Blood, Holy Grail. Could people call Saint Clair or Plantard have there DNA checked to find out if they really are descendants of Jesus?

[Paul Robbins]

It would be perfectly possible... if you could find some of Jesus's DNA. I don't think anyone can though.

[heidi]

Couldn't you find it on the Turin Shroud maybe?

[whitfield]

Hi folks. Nice to be here.

Hasn't radio carbon dating shown that the Shroud is a medieval fake?

[Janey]

I saw something on TV recently about a couple who were obsessed with the shroud. They eventually proved the piece of the shroud tested with radio carbon was newer than the rest. It had been stitched on after the shroud was repaired in a fire in the middle ages.

BUT even if the shroud is the real deal I don't think DNA would have lasted long enough unless it was frozen.

[thor3436]

i bet all of the DNA got washed off by rain and wind
once i saw a program about this prehistoric guy
who was killed by some people
and his body was frozen in the alps i think
it was

[Paul Robbins]

Originally Posted by Janey

BUT even if the shroud is the real deal I don't think DNA would have lasted long enough unless it was frozen.

Hi Janey. If Jesus's DNA had got onto the shroud, it's possible it could have survived to the present day. DNA from 4,000+ years old Egyptian mummies has been extracted, for example. No, a bigger problem is that all sorts of people have been in contact with the shroud through the ages. How could you prove any DNA you found was Jesus's and not one of the (possibly hundreds of) people who have handled the shroud?

[Princess Sophie]

Thankyou for all you answers. This looks like a puzzle that will not be solved. That makes it even more interesting.

[thor3436]

i guess some thing are not supposed to be found out.