What will Otzi the Iceman's DNA teach us?

Ötzi has not been put on ice, on the contrary - things are hotting up for him! By decoding Ötzi the Iceman's DNA, scientists have reached a new milestone in their study of the world's most famous glacier mummy.

Experts from three institutions have pooled their skills in order to map Ötzi’s entire genetic make-up: Albert Zink, Head of the EURAC Institute for Mummies and the Iceman, together with Carsten Pusch, from the Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Tübingen and Andreas Keller from the biotech firm febit in Heidelberg.  Together the researchers reached “a historic moment in the study of the 5,000 year old mummy”.

Ötzi's genetic profile is based on a – defrosted – bone sample extracted from the pelvis of the ice mummy. The scientists then used sequencing technology to decode the millions of building blocks which make up Ötzi’s genome, creating a DNA library which contains the largest data set ever recovered from the iceman.  This work on the iceman turned out to be a ground-breaking activity for the research team. “We are dealing here with old DNA which in addition is heavily fragmented”, explains Albert Zink, who is entrusted with the care of Ötzi.

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When a body was found on the Austro-Italian border in 1991, 3210 metres above sea level, it was at first assumed to be a modern corpse. Only after the body was removed from the ice, radiocarbon dating on the upper thigh bone revealed the corpse's to be that of a Late Neolithic mountaineer.  Ötzi, as the 5300-year-old glacier corpse was soon nicknamed – was found fully clothed and with his hair, eyes and even content of his intestines still intact. Although the mummy weights only 13 kilograms, the Chalcolithic iceman must have weighed about 50, and is estimated to have been 1.60 metres tall. He wore his dark brown hair loose at shoulder lenght, and had dots and lines tattood on his lower spine, behind his left knee and on his right ankle, likely inteded as a cure for arthritis. Amongst others, the iceman carried a copper axe, a flint knife, arrows and an unfinished bow.

We know the Iceman was not in good health when he died, but the cause and exact circumstances of Ötzi's death – in early summer and around the age of  46 – are still debated. At first it was thought he was surprised by a winter storm, or ritually sacrificed. Only in 2001, the discovery of an arrowhead lodged in Ötzi's shoulder prompted speculation that he died a violent death. Further research revealed bruises and cuts, as well as evidence the Tyrolean Iceman received a blow to the head. It is unlikely Ötzi was alone at the time of his death.

In 2000, scientists defrosted the natural mummy for the first time and sampled DNA from his intestines. The study of Ötzi's mitochondrial DNA showed he belongs to subhaplogroup K1, meaning he shares an a common ancestor with at least  8% of modern Europeans.  Further research found that – surprisingly – he belongs to a branch of that genetic group that is thought to be extinct, or at least extremely rare.

Albert Zink and Andreas Keller recently published (in collaboration with the Egyptian team led by Zahi Hawass) the latest findings on the life and the medical condition of Tutankhamen and his family.  They hope to do the same for Ötzi and are studying Ötzi's genetic profile, looking for answers to the many questions surrounding the iceman – and human evolution.  Which genetic mutations can be observed between earlier and present day populations?  Are any of Ötzi’s descendants still around today and if so, where might they be found?

The researchers say that by comparing the iceman's genetic make-up and predisposition to various types of ailments, Ötzi can teach us about today’s genetic diseases and other illnesses (such as diabetes or cancer) as well. 

They promise to publish their data analysis as well as the resulting conclusions by next year, in time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ötzi's discovery.

Since 1998, the Tyrolean Iceman and the artefacts found with him are on display at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, Italy. The mummy is kept in a special refrigeration chamber, at the constant temperature of 6 °C.

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Ann Wuyts (follow me: e-mail or )

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Unique Iron Age Hoard goes on display at Ipswich Museum | Royal Artefacts - Including King Tut's Golden Trumpet - Returned to Egyptian Museum Cairo | SCA releases full list of treasures missing from the Cairo Museum

Ann 'Vint' Wuyts is looking after the Heritage Key community and avatar health & entertainment. She is slightly fascinated by everything to do with 3D technology and what's commonly defined as 'Web 2.0'. When she grows up, Ann - eventually - wants to be a mummy. Favourite game: Buzzword Bingo /…