Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

DNA Analysis Suggests Thomas Jefferson Fathered Sally Hemings' Children

Hairs from Thomas Jefferson's Bible and subsequent DNA research on living descendants are being used to investigate the paternity of Sally Hemings' children.

Hairs found in the "Jefferson Bible" and supposed Jefferson hair samples were analyzed. Initial attempts yielded degraded nuclear DNA. Mitochondrial DNA was sequenced but cannot determine paternity.

Previous 1998 Y-chromosome research suggested a Jefferson male fathered Eston Hemings but couldn't confirm Thomas Jefferson himself.

The current project aims to compare autosomal DNA from living fifth-generation descendants of Hemings and Jefferson (via his wife Martha).

Researchers collected DNA samples from living descendants of both Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

The historical hair samples proved challenging due to degradation. DNA from living descendants is being sequenced.

The study faced time constraints as elderly descendants passed away. Descendants from both lines were identified and sampled.

The autosomal DNA comparison is expected to provide evidence regarding Thomas Jefferson's paternity of Hemings' children.

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