MYSTERY SOLVED: DNA - DETECTIVE IN THE GRAVES AT YEKATERINBURG

The Independent:-- Scientists have pieced together DNA evidence from two graves near Yekaterinburg and have conclusively shown that Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, the Tsarina Alexandra, died with all five of their children, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and their haemophiliac son, the crown prince, Alexei. The only remaining mystery is whether the girl buried alongside Alexei in a separate grave from the rest of the family was Maria or Anastasia...

The Romanov study used three different ways of analysing DNA to determine family relationships within the graves – and the relationship, if any, to living relatives of the Russian royal family. Mitochondrial DNA, inherited only down the maternal line, was used to assess the relationship of Prince Philip, who is related to the Tsarina through his mother, with bone fragments found in the grave. This helped to determine that the Tsarina and her four daughters were indeed buried in the two graves. DNA known to be inherited only from fathers by sons on the male Y chromosome was used to determine the relationship between the crown prince, Alexei, and his father, Tsar Nicholas II. And finally, DNA from the rest of the chromosomes was used to find out who was who in the mass graves – separating family members from three servants and a doctor.

For your information here are the latest published articles, which discuss the DNA investigations conducted on the skeletal remains found in Yekaterinburg: 1. Michael D. Coble 2. Dr E. Rogaev (opens PDF)


In the photo, the Romanovs visiting a regiment during World War I. From left to right, Grand Duchess Anastasia, Grand Duchess Olga, Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarevich and Grand Duke Alexei, Grand Duchess Tatiana, and Grand Duchess Maria, with Cossacks regiment.

(Photo credit: Romanov Collection, General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.)