Ötzi the 5,300 old ice man has oldest blood cells in the world
The oldest known blood cells have been discovered in the wounds of Ötzi, the stone age "Iceman" whose body was discovered on an Alpine mountainside after being preserved in ice 5,300 years ago.
The discovery has provided further evidence of exactly how Ötzi met his end Photo: REUTERS
10:01AM BST 02 May 2012
Ötzi was dubbed the "victim of the world's oldest murder puzzle" after his severely wounded and bruised corpse was discovered by hikers near the Italian-Austrian border in 1991.
Since then scientists have scientists have pored over his clothes, his body and even sequenced his DNA to discover the man's age, his state of health and even what he ate for his last meal.
Now the discovery of red blood cells in his wounds – the oldest blood traces ever found – has provided further evidence of exactly how Ötzi met his end.
The state-of-the-art technique used to identify the blood cells could also improve forensic methods used by detectives at crime scenes, researchers said.
Modern forensic techniques are still not advanced enough to tell how long blood has been present at a crime scene, but the scientists said their nanotechnology approach could lead to a breakthrough in the field.
Using an atomic force microscope, the team studied thin layers of tissue at the point where an arrow had pierced Ötzi's back, and on a deep cut on his right hand.
By probing every tiny point on the tissue they built up a three-dimensional image of the tissue, which blood cells with the same distinctive doughnut-like appearance as those found in healthy people today, and traces of fibrin, a blood clotting protein.
The discovery of a flint arrowhead in his shoulder in 2001, together with other bruises and wounds, had already indicated that Ötzi was attacked before his death, but it had been unclear whether he died at the scene, or whether he crawled to his mountainside grave after fleeing his enemies and died from exhaustion or bleeding some days later.
Dr Albert Zink, of the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman in Bolzano, Italy, said: "Because fibrin is present in fresh wounds and then degrades, the theory that Ötzi died some days after he had been injured by the arrow, as had once been mooted, can no longer be upheld".
Previous studies of Ötzi's naturally mummified body have already found that he was about 159cm tall (5ft, 2.5in) and at 46 years old was at a relatively advanced stage of life.
Researchers discovered the man – possibly a warrior – suffered with hardened arteries and tooth cavities and had eaten a meal of ibex shortly before his death, while they speculated that tattoos on his spine and right leg may have been a primitive attempt to overcome his arthritis.
Sequencing of his DNA also revealed that he had brown eyes and type "O" blood, was lactose intolerant, and was more closely related to modern-day Corsicans or Sardinians than people living in the Alps near where his body was found.
An international team of researchers has published nearly the entire DNA sequence of 5,300 year old Ötzi the Tyrolean Iceman, Nature News reports.
Hikers found Ötzi in 1991 in the Italian Alps. His well-preserved body told researchers that Ötzi had hardened arteries and tooth cavities, fancied tattoos, ate ibex for his last meal, and died with a arrow in his back. Scientists in 2008 gathered that Ötzi likely came from a vanished population - his sequenced mitochondrial DNA shows mutations not carried in present-day people.
The new sequencing, completed by researchers at Italy’s Institute for Mummies and the Iceman (yes, that’s a real place), uncovers 96% of Ötzi’s genome. It comes from DNA in the nuclei of cells harvested from his pelvic bone.
Here are some of the new stats the scientists gathered about Ötzi :
Head researcher Albert Zink told Nature blogger Ewen Callaway that despite his satisfaction with the findings, he’s disappointed the study didn’t come out in time for the Iceman Murder Mystery television special.
Images: Nature News and Nature Communications
Disturbed by their discovery, they assumed that they had found the mummified remains of an unfortunate mountain climber. Since it can be difficult to recover the body of a fallen climber, especially if a fresh snowfall covers the area, many people who have died in the mountains are often left there. Their body freezes and does not deteriorate; many such mummies have been recovered.........read more...
How the Iceman was found
By probing every tiny point on the tissue they built up a three-dimensional image of the tissue, which blood cells with the same distinctive doughnut-like appearance as those found in healthy people today, and traces of fibrin, a blood clotting protein.
The discovery of a flint arrowhead in his shoulder in 2001, together with other bruises and wounds, had already indicated that Ötzi was attacked before his death, but it had been unclear whether he died at the scene, or whether he crawled to his mountainside grave after fleeing his enemies and died from exhaustion or bleeding some days later.
Dr Albert Zink, of the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman in Bolzano, Italy, said: "Because fibrin is present in fresh wounds and then degrades, the theory that Ötzi died some days after he had been injured by the arrow, as had once been mooted, can no longer be upheld".
Previous studies of Ötzi's naturally mummified body have already found that he was about 159cm tall (5ft, 2.5in) and at 46 years old was at a relatively advanced stage of life.
Researchers discovered the man – possibly a warrior – suffered with hardened arteries and tooth cavities and had eaten a meal of ibex shortly before his death, while they speculated that tattoos on his spine and right leg may have been a primitive attempt to overcome his arthritis.
Sequencing of his DNA also revealed that he had brown eyes and type "O" blood, was lactose intolerant, and was more closely related to modern-day Corsicans or Sardinians than people living in the Alps near where his body was found.
Iceman’s DNA gives clues to health risks
An international team of researchers has published nearly the entire DNA sequence of 5,300 year old Ötzi the Tyrolean Iceman, Nature News reports.
Hikers found Ötzi in 1991 in the Italian Alps. His well-preserved body told researchers that Ötzi had hardened arteries and tooth cavities, fancied tattoos, ate ibex for his last meal, and died with a arrow in his back. Scientists in 2008 gathered that Ötzi likely came from a vanished population - his sequenced mitochondrial DNA shows mutations not carried in present-day people.
The new sequencing, completed by researchers at Italy’s Institute for Mummies and the Iceman (yes, that’s a real place), uncovers 96% of Ötzi’s genome. It comes from DNA in the nuclei of cells harvested from his pelvic bone.Here are some of the new stats the scientists gathered about Ötzi :
- He had brown eyes and type O blood.
- Lactose didn’t sit well with him.
- His closest present-day relatives are in Corsica and Sardinia
Head researcher Albert Zink told Nature blogger Ewen Callaway that despite his satisfaction with the findings, he’s disappointed the study didn’t come out in time for the Iceman Murder Mystery television special.
Images: Nature News and Nature Communications
Disturbed by their discovery, they assumed that they had found the mummified remains of an unfortunate mountain climber. Since it can be difficult to recover the body of a fallen climber, especially if a fresh snowfall covers the area, many people who have died in the mountains are often left there. Their body freezes and does not deteriorate; many such mummies have been recovered.........read more...
How the Iceman was found
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