DNA Analysis of Shroud of Turin Reveals Complex Biological Traces From Centuries of Contact
DNA analysis of the Shroud of Turin reveals human, plant, animal and microbial traces, highlighting contamination challenges in forensic genetics.
An international research team has used advanced DNA sequencing to examine biological traces preserved on the Shroud of Turin, identifying genetic material from humans, microorganisms, plants, and animals. The research, originally published in Scientific Reports on July 9, 2026, received renewed attention in November.
The Shroud of Turin is a historical linen cloth bearing the faint image of a human figure. Its origins have been debated for generations, making it an important subject for scientific examination.
Researchers investigated whether modern genomic techniques could reveal information about the cloth's biological history using samples collected during an official examination in 1978.
The team employed DNA extraction, genomic library preparation, and metagenomic sequencing to examine genetic material associated with the historical textile.
Metagenomics allows researchers to investigate DNA from multiple organisms within a sample rather than focusing on a single biological source. This approach is particularly useful when examining objects exposed to different environments and repeated human contact.
The researchers tested 12 samples and obtained genomic sequencing data from seven.
Their analysis identified several human mitochondrial DNA lineages, including K1a1b1a, H2a2, H1b, and H33.
Importantly, the predominant mitochondrial lineage matched the genetic profile of a researcher involved in collecting the original samples in 1978. Additional genomic analysis supported a close relationship between the recovered DNA and that individual.
This finding illustrates how historical sampling procedures and subsequent handling can introduce biological material that complicates forensic interpretation.
The researchers also detected genetic traces associated with bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals.
Plant DNA included species such as carrots, wheat, maize, and other cultivated crops. The samples also contained genetic material associated with domesticated animals and microorganisms adapted to different environmental conditions.
These findings suggest that the cloth accumulated biological traces through numerous interactions over time.
However, the presence of DNA from a particular organism does not establish when or where that material was deposited.
The researchers also examined patterns of DNA degradation to assess whether some genetic fragments might represent older biological material.
Most recovered sequences did not display the characteristic damage patterns expected of confidently identifiable ancient DNA, highlighting the substantial influence of modern contamination.
The study therefore cannot determine the Shroud's age, establish its authenticity, or identify the original source of its biological material.
For forensic scientists, the research demonstrates both the capabilities and limitations of metagenomic analysis when applied to historical evidence.
It also reinforces the importance of contamination control, sample provenance, and cautious interpretation when investigating biological traces collected decades earlier.
The findings show how modern forensic genetics can provide new information about an object's environmental history without necessarily resolving questions about its origin.