New Technique Extracts Genetic Material from Historic Parchment Manuscripts

Researchers at North Carolina State University have unveiled a groundbreaking method for recovering cellular material from historic parchment manuscripts without causing damage. This innovative approach enables the analysis of genetic information preserved in parchment, potentially offering insights into trade, agriculture, and daily life over the past 1,300 years.

Parchment, created from animal skin, has served as a recording medium for various written works, including legal documents and maps, for centuries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The animal skins not only captured written records but also preserved biological materials, allowing for the extraction of genetic clues alongside the text.

Tim Stinson, the corresponding author and an associate professor of English at North Carolina State University, noted, “Because they are made from animal skins, it is often possible to extract genetic information from parchments. That genetic information, in turn, offers us a window into the past, answering questions about things such as when and where a manuscript was made.”

Potential Implications of DNA Analysis

The genetic data extracted from these manuscripts could extend beyond the origins of individual documents. It may inform researchers about the evolution of domesticated animals, the emergence of different breeds, and even the diseases that impacted livestock over time. Matthew Breen, a co-author and the Oscar J. Fletcher Distinguished Professor of Comparative Oncology Genetics, commented, “Because parchments have been in use for so long, and often record detailed historical information, the genetic information they contain can also shed light on the evolution of domesticated farm species, how breeds developed over time, livestock diseases, and so on.”

A significant barrier to this research has been access to these valuable manuscripts, as libraries and museums often hesitate to allow sampling due to concerns about potential damage to these culturally significant artifacts. Stinson emphasized, “Our work shows that we can collect samples without harming the parchments, which is a big step forward.”

Methodology Demonstrated Through Historic Manuscripts

The research team applied their technique to collect cellular samples from 91 manuscripts located in the Rubenstein Library at Duke University. These documents, dating from the late eighth to the early 20th centuries, originate from regions spanning England to Ethiopia. The sampling method involves gently rubbing a dry cytology brush on the parchment, leaving the integrity of the historic text intact.

Breen explained, “Cytology brushes can be used when dry and do an excellent job of harvesting cellular material without damaging the integrity of the artifact being sampled.” Following the collection, forensic-level, next-generation sequencing technologies were employed to isolate and amplify the genetic sequences gathered from the manuscripts.

Future Opportunities in Historical Research

This ability to recover significant genetic information without harming manuscripts could encourage institutions to permit more extensive research on valuable documents. Breen stated, “We’ve shown that we’re able to extract a tremendous amount of new information from these parchments without harming them, which will hopefully engender trust with those organizations responsible for preserving these historic documents.”

The researchers see historic parchment as an underutilized source of information that links genetics with topics typically explored by historians and archaeologists. Stinson remarked on the excitement surrounding this evolving field, stating, “We’ve demonstrated that this is a vast, untapped source of historical information, and we want to continue this pioneering work.”

The paper detailing this research, titled “Adventures in the Animal Archive: New Techniques for the Genetic Analysis of Parchment Manuscripts,” is published open access in the journal Manuscript Studies. Co-authors include Melissa Scheible, Rachael Thomas, Benjamin Callahan, Nicholas Wagner, and Kelly Meiklejohn.