The University of Leicester is moving ahead in order to sequence Richard III’s genome. Will somebody also clone him in the future?
Dr. Turi King is obviously a very nice and clever scientist. What is more, she has done an exemplary work of unambiguously identifying the corpse in the car-park as that of the late king Richard III. Next step is to do a full sequencing of Richard III’s genome as well as that of his living relative, Michael Ibsen. According to the scientist this might reveal all sorts of information about what he looked like. For instance his eye colour and his hair colour. This might be useful in order to decide which of his portraits was actually painted to his likeness; as it happens they are quite different in their outlook. It might also, we learn, identify whether he was genetically disposed to any illnesses and maybe even if his scoliosis was an inherited illness. Further it is, according to Dr. Turi King, essential to have his full genome mapped, since the future may present us with unlimited possibilities to know more about the man. Elsewhere in the scientific world some scientist believe it will be possible in the future to map IQ, temper – perhaps even murderous impulses through genetic mapping. Richard III will be one of only a small number of ancient individuals who have so-far had their genomes sequenced. Others include Otzi the Iceman, Neanderthal specimens, a Denisovan and a Greenlandic Inuit as well as an ancient hunter-gatherer from Spain. Richard III will be the first historical individual of known identity to have his genome sequenced. The work will be carried out in collaboration with Professor Michael Hofreiter at the University of Potsdam, tells the University spokesman.
In addition to sequencing the remains of Richard III, Dr King and colleagues will also sequence one of his living relatives, Michael Ibsen. An initial analysis of the DNA of his mitochondria – the batteries that power the cells in our bodies – which is passed down the maternal line, confirmed the genealogical evidence that Ibsen and Richard III shared the same lineage. A more detailed analysis is due to be published shortly. This new project will allow researchers to look for any other segments of DNA that these distant relatives share. This, in itself will yield very important information, since historical sequenced genomes have never before been compared over such a long time-span.
Who knows, this sequencing might even yield information, which can be used if the Supreme Court should decide for the Yorkist plaintiffs – The Plantagenet Alliance – in the matter concerning the future reinterment of Richard III.The argument raised by the plaintiffs has been that they as distant relatives “should have had a say” in the matter. Thus if the court decides for the plaintiffs, the question surely will be: are they really related? How related should one be to have a say in the matter? This may now be decided scientifically. Finally, of course, we come up with the real ethical dilemma: will Richard III be cloned? Last summer the astonishingly well-preserved blood from a 10.000-year old frozen mammoth was found in Siberia. This led Ian Wilmut, who was responsible for the cloning of Dolly in 1996 to say, that, indeed, this discovery might lead to the production of stem-cells and thus fully cloned animals. (Stem cells are identical to the first embryonic cells of any individual.
Recently scientists found a way to construe omni-potent stem-cells out of skin or any other tissue.) All over the world, scientist are currently discussing whether to de-extinct long-lost species. Apparently there is no tissue left on Richard’s corpse. A cloning would with the present technique thus seem to require that the scientists had to borrow the cytoplasm of an unfertilized egg, the “fuelling” so to speak,while substituting the DNA in the nucleus of the Cell with that of Richard’s. However, in Richard’s case the genetic profile of his mitochondria has also been secured, since this is where the DNA was located, which the team used to identify the genetic kinship between Richard and his two ancestors, one of which is Michael Ibsen. The technique to do DNA recombination of these mitochondria is also available (a technique used to help infertile women with deceased mitochondria). A cloning of Richard of both the nuclear and the mitochondrial DNA would thus (in the future) be possible. For very good ethical reasons human cloning is currently banned by law all over the world. Most scientists, however, agree that this is just a question of time… Naturally we are told “The University of Leicester requires research projects concerning human subjects to receive ethical approval. The project has been reviewed by the Ethics Committee of the University of Leicester’s College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology.” All very comforting…
VIDEO:
Dr. Turi King explains the future sequencing of Richard III
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