Recent genetic studies of the Shroud of Turin have once again drawn the attention of the global scientific community and the public to one of the most famous Christian relics. According to a publication in the authoritative scientific journal Scientific Reports, researchers applied advanced next-generation sequencing technologies, which opened unprecedented opportunities for the simultaneous analysis of millions of genetic fragments. The focus of the researchers was on 12 carefully selected samples of textile fibers bearing traces of the cloth's centuries-old history.

Middle Eastern Genetic Markers and Microorganism Traces

DNA analysis revealed the presence of a rare maternal lineage of haplogroup H33, carriers of which currently reside predominantly in the Middle East — in the region of the modern Holy Land, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. In addition to human genetics, scientists recorded the presence of halophilic (salt-loving) archaea and microorganisms. This indicates a high probability that at some period in its history, the linen cloth was stored near saltwater bodies, such as the Dead Sea, or processed in brackish water.

Contradictory Data

Despite the sensational Middle Eastern markers, researchers urge maximum caution when interpreting the results. Genetic analysis also revealed a dominant maternal lineage that completely matched the profile of Professor Pierluigi Baima Bollone, who personally collected these fibers in 1978. Furthermore, numerous skin bacteria (Cutibacterium, Staphylococcus) were found on the fabric, proving extensive human contact with the relic over the centuries. Severe cross-contamination makes the isolation of exclusively primary ancient DNA an almost impossible task.

European Impurities and the Impossibility of Precise Dating

The complexity of the study is compounded by the presence of foreign biological traces from later eras. For instance, pollen from 16th-century European carrot varieties was found on the shroud, along with DNA from New World plants — tomatoes, potatoes, corn, and peanuts, which only reached Europe after the Age of Discovery. Representatives of the scientific world emphasize that the aggregate biological data neither definitively confirms the authenticity of the 1st-century relic nor proves its medieval origin. Radiocarbon dating in this context reflects only late restoration interventions, leaving the question of origin open.