April 11, 2000
Utah scientists are extracting DNA from Egyptian mummies in a quest to document 4,000-year-old geneaology from an ancient Egyptian dynasty.
In fact, Egypt's foremost expert is in town to meet with BYU microbiologists.
He'll also deliver a major lecture Wednesday on his country's preservation efforts.
Our Ed Yeates has the story.
For 30 years, Dr. Nasry Iskander has worked to preserve all this heritage-- tombs, temples, mummies, and millions of artifacts.
He's now director general of Conservation and Preservation on the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities, and he's formed a unique partnership with Brigham Young University scientists.
From many of these sites, BYU microbiologists are studying bits and pieces of DNA incredibly preserved in 3 to 4-thousand year old mummies.
Dr. Iskander says his country's ancient heritage must now be shared with everybody, and he's asking the world to help in the preservation effort.
Dr. Nasry Iskander/Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities: "EVERY PART OF THIS IS A PART OF CIVILIZATION THROUGH THE HISTORIES."
ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "IT'S A LONG WAY FROM THESE ANCIENT TOMBS AND GRAVESITES TO THIS LAB IN PROVO, UTAH. BUT IT'S HERE WHERE SCOTT WOODWARD AND HIS COLLEAGUES ARE EXTRACTING THE DNA."
It comes from small samples of bone, teeth and skin. Genetic codes and patterns are not only identifying the mummified remains themselves but the relationships between important members of the 18th dynasty - which brothers and sisters married - which ones did not. The samplings so far are just the tip of the pyramids.
Dr. Scott Woodward/ BYU Microbiologist: "BUT THERE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHTEEN GENERATIONS IN THE EIGHTEENTH DYNASTY AND IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE GENEAOLOGY, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT MORE SAMPLES."
The Utah scientists are not only coding DNA samples with people thought to belong to the royal family - but others who were NOT members. Even more monumental, they'll compare thousands of DNA samples taken from volunteers representing cultures around the world.
"I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HAS AN INTEREST IN WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY'RE CONNECTED BOTH TO EACH OTHER AND HOW WE'RE CONNECTED TO THE PAST."
In addition to geneaology, Woodward's team is also sampling Egypt's ancient burial sites for DNA from microorganisms, which may offer clues to infectious diseases from 4,000 years ago.
