A more complete article is here.In the Middle Ages, manuscripts were commonly hand written on vellum or parchment, which was made from, respectively, calfskin and sheepskin. Since this is animal matter, DNA can be recovered from it. Now NC State Assistant Professor of English Timothy Stinson is using modern advances in genetics to collect DNA from medieval manuscripts. The plan: to create a baseline of DNA markers from the manuscripts of known origin to compare to manuscripts of unknown origin and help find out where they came from, as well as when they were made. This can be no easy task, as vellum and parchment were occasionally scraped of their ink to be used again; but a combination of technological advances and patience may win out. If successfully collected and identified, Stinson's data could be extraordinarily useful in tracking manuscript production and the trade route of parchments.
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Can DNA help trace the origins of medieval manuscripts?
- Rowan
- Bibliophile
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Can DNA help trace the origins of medieval manuscripts?
Dunno if anyone here subscribes to the Medieval History newsletter on About.com, but I thought this was too interesting to not pass along:
- diamondlil
- Bibliomaniac
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- Joined: August 2008
The aging and location of manuscripts being identified through DNA etc is part of the story in People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.
My Blog - Reading Adventures
All things Historical Fiction - Historical Tapestry
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton
All things Historical Fiction - Historical Tapestry
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton
- diamondlil
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 2642
- Joined: August 2008
Yeah I have. I liked it, but enjoyed her other books more. This particular aspect of it was very interesting though.
My Blog - Reading Adventures
All things Historical Fiction - Historical Tapestry
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton
All things Historical Fiction - Historical Tapestry
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton