FamilyTreeDNA and University of Cambridge Lead Research Study that Reveals the Most Famous Beethoven Wasn't Genetically a Beethoven
HOUSTON, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ludwig van Beethoven's genome was recently sequenced by an international team of scientists and it revealed some shocking information about his family history.
- Now, researchers have used DNA to show that Ludwig, the most famous Beethoven, is not genetically related to other living Beethovens.
- Back in 2020, researchers at Cambridge University and the Max Planck Institute sequenced the DNA from several locks of hair attributed to Ludwig.
- The research team contacted living descendants of Aert van Beethoven (1535–1609), Ludwig's supposed 5th great-grandfather.
- The five present-day descendants of Aert van Beethoven belong to haplogroup R1b, whereas Ludwig van Beethoven belongs to haplogroup I1.