The Tutankhamun DNA Project
Are you a direct male descendant of the pharaohs? iGENEA exclusively publishes the Y-DNA profile of Tutankhamun and searches for his last living relatives.
In 2009, extensive DNA tests were carried out on Tutankhamun's mummy and other members of his family. However, these were only partially published in February 2010. The results of the Y-DNA test have been kept under wraps despite several requests. iGENEA, with the help of a Discovery Channel recording, has now succeeded in reconstructing the Y-DNA profile of Tutankhamun, his father Akhenaten and his grandfather Amenophis III. The astonishing result:
Tutankhamun belongs to the haplogroup R-M269, to which more than 50% of all men in Western Europe belong today.
Search for relatives living today
In the current Tutankhamun project, we are now searching for the closest relatives of Tutankhamun's male lineage living today in Europe. To participate in the Tutankhamun DNA Project, order an iGENEA Premium or Expert test. If your profile matches Tutankhamun's in all 16 markers, we will refund the price of the test and you will receive a free test extension.Background
Haplogroup R-M269 originated in the region around the Black Sea about 9,500 years ago. The earliest immigration of this group to Europe was with the spread of agriculture from 7,000 BC, most likely there is also a strong connection with the Indo-Europeans, who spread to Europe in several waves a little later.In Egypt today, this group makes up less than 1% and is certainly partly due to European immigration during the last 2,000 years.
Tutankhamun was the last pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, reigning from 1332 to 1323 BC. His paternal lineage begins with Pharaoh Thutmosis I who ruled from about 1504 BC to 1492 BC. His paternal lineage is unknown.
Therefore, it is unclear at present how this lineage came to Egypt from the area of origin. The earliest evidence of agriculture is known from around 5,000 BC, it is possible that already with the spread of agriculture from the Fertile Crescent region, haplogroup R-M269 arrived in Egypt from the north.
Likewise, the fourth wave of spread of the presumably Indo-European Kurgan culture between 2,500 and 2,200 BC comes into question. This culture spread already from about 4.400 B.C. also to Europe whereby the connection with the haplogroup R-M269 can be explained. Haplogroup R-M269 was certainly also widespread in the empire of the Indo-European Hittites in Anatolia. From the reign of Akhenaten or Tutankhamun a letter from an Egyptian queen has survived from the archives of the Hittites. In this letter she asks the king of the Hittites for one of his sons as the new pharaoh, since her husband was dead and she had no son.
The identity of the queen is still unclear, but possibly there were kinship relations between the 18th dynasty of Egypt and the Hittites, the origin of the R-M269 line of pharaohs could indicate this.
Only future research will be able to clarify the exact relationships. With the publication of this test result we want to contribute to the scientific discussion and bring it further forward.
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The DNA profiles of other famous people
Questions and answers about the DNA test
How long does a DNA origin analysis take?
After we have received the samples it normally takes 6-8 weeks for the fist results. Depending on the chosen test the result is thus already fully ready or further analysis are done.
How can I order a DNA origin analysis for someone else?
If you order and pay for a test set for somebody else online, the address of the other person under “Comments”. We will then send the collection kit to the address of this person. You can also place your order by phone or e-mail.
This is how the DNA origin analysis works
A Mucus Sample suffices to get a sample of your DNA. Taking the sample is simple and painless and can be done at home. Send the samples with the envelop included in the sampling kit.
by telephone, e-mail or on the website
delivery takes a few days
at home, simple and painless
with the enclosed envelope
online after approx. 6 - 8 weeks