Pompeii victim’s genome successfully sequenced for first time

The genome of a person who died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius has been mapped for the first time, revealing new information on the health and diversity of those who lived in the Roman empire.

The House of the Craftsman in Pompeii, where the remains of two people were found, was the subject of a study published in Scientific Reports on Thursday.

The experts were only able to sequence the entire genome from the man's remains due to gaps in the sequence obtained from the woman.

Before this study, there were only short stretches of the human and animal's genetic material.

The man was killed in the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79. His genes were found to be similar to those of people from central Italy and those who lived during the ancient Roman period. The groups of genes found in Sardinia, but not among those who lived in Italy during the empire, suggest there may have been high levels of genetic diversity across the Italian peninsula at that time.

The man's skeleton was analyzed and found that he may have had Tuberculosis before he died.

The female was thought to have been affected by the disease.

Serena Viva, an anthropologist, said that this could have been the reason for which they waited for it all to finish, compared to other victims who were fleeing and whose remains were found in open spaces.

The scientists speculated that the release of pyroclastic materials during the eruption could have provided protection from environmental factors that degrade DNA, such as atmospheric oxygen.

The first excavations of the Pompeii ruins began in 1748. Over the centuries, about 1,500 victims have been found. The remains of two men, believed to be a master and his slave, were found in a villa in the outskirts of the ancient city.

The scientists said the findings confirmed the possibility of retrieving ancient DNA from other victims of Pompeii to provide further insight into their genetic history.

The victims of Pompeii experienced a natural catastrophe, a thermal shock, and it was not known that you could preserve their genetic material. This study provides confirmation that the new technology allows us to sequence genomes on damaged material.