I hope this does not cross the line into current events...

Recently I was reading an article about historical figures and DNA. The theme of the article was whether or not we should test DNA from historical figures to gain insight into their actions or physical factors that played a role in history.

For example,
Thomas Jefferson having an affair with his slave Sally Hemmings and fathering her children. (Which was proved through DNA)
Looking to see if Lincoln had a genetic disorder which could then be used to bring awareness to the disorder.
Analyze if Beethoven had a "creative gene" that gave him an edge in composing music.
If Stalin suffered from mental problems which led to his actions.

Should we exhume historical figures and analyze their DNA for historical purposes? Do we have that right by virtue of their celebrity/historical actions

In a word - No

Digging up people just to prove some random genealogical or historical point or other is a total anathema to me. It looks back to the past where we got such idiocies as keeping Einstein's brain and the like - and what did that teach anyone?

Genius and its opposites are far more than just a function of our genes. What about environment, upbringing, life experiences, drug abuse and all the other complex factors that determine who anyone is?

David

As a post-script I found this gem in a discussion about historic figures who may or may not have had Marfan's syndrome (as has been suggested in Lincoln's case).

Apparently, Marfan's Syndrome gives sufferers a high sensitivity to the cold and the Dutch scientists think that this may account for the fact that Akhenaten worshipped a single sun-god.



Not the greatest scientific basis for exhuming people, who certainly weren't buried just to be scientific resource.

David

Also, DNA degrades with time. The samples that may be taken today may not be accurate as if the person was still alive.

That's quite a moral theme you raised here.
My feelings tend to follow David's opinion, though it surely would bring interesting facts to the light...

Post-script No. 2

What if the 'genius gene' turns out to be as illusory as the 'gay gene' ?

BTW I've dug up numerous burials as part of my work, and I'd only ever consider it necessary if they were going to be disturbed anyway.

David

Ditto pretty much everything David said.

I think David has a good point. The only reason I can legitimately see is to identify remains as being the exact person. A local case near Kansas City was that of the grave of Jesse James. DNA was able to prove that it was in fact him buried in a plot which was rumored to hold someone else and that Jesse got away.

It is also noteworthy to mention the case of "the unkown soldier" from Vietnam. DNA was able to identify the remains and they were presented to his family for local burial. Other "unknown" remains were then placed in the crypt.