DNA sequencing uncovers centuries‑long biological record on Shroud of Turin

Researchers applied advanced PCR‑free next‑generation metagenomic sequencing to fibers taken from the Shroud of Turin in 1978. Published in Scientific Reports, the study identified multiple human mitochondrial DNA lineages, a diverse microbiome of skin‑associated bacteria, fungi and salt‑adapted archaea, as well as DNA from cultivated plants (wheat, carrots, corn, bananas, peanuts) and domestic animals (cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats). These findings map a complex biological history reflecting centuries of handling, storage and transport across different regions.

The work, led by Professor Noemi Procopio of the University of Lancashire and an international team, demonstrates how forensic genomics can reconstruct the preservation and environmental exposure of historic objects, but the DNA evidence does not resolve the Shroud’s authenticity. The study was highlighted alongside other open‑access medieval research, underscoring growing interdisciplinary interest in the relic.