An investigation published this week in the journal ‘Human Evolution’ reveals that there are 14 living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci , the genius of the Renaissance. It took experts 50 years to complete the study as they have had to analyze thousands of data from more than seven centuries of history: from Da Vinci’s great-great-grandfather to the present day.
He did not have biological children, but he did have several stepbrothers since he was born out of wedlock . Researchers Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato have made a total of five additional branches based on one of Da Vinci’s stepbrothers and father. For this, they have had the collaboration of the Leonardo da Vinci Heritage Association, the J. Craig Venter Institute of La Jolla, California and the Ideale Leonardo Da Vinci Museum.
During these 50 years they have studied 21 generations, and thus have come to the conclusion that today there are 14 living descendants . Now their DNA remains to be matched with genetic data from deceased family members.
The investigators have granted an interview to the Italian news agency ‘ANSA’, in which they have spoken about the descendants of Leonardo da Vinci. They are between 1 and 85 years old and have completely normal jobs, such as waiters and craftsmen.
Leonardo da Vinci Curiosities
Finally, we want to point out a series of curiosities about the genius of the Renaissance .
If there is something that draws attention about Da Vinci, it is that he drew many things that were not yet invented , such as the parachute, the armored car or the helicopter … All of these are modern inventions, but they appear in his drawings.
Experts estimate that Da Vinci had an IQ of at least 220 . The way he understood the world, the aerodynamics and the human body show that he was a very intelligent person.
Between 1507 and 1513 he dissected more than 30 corpses and made 240 drawings on muscles, veins, bones and organs . For this reason, there are many who consider him a great reference in forensic anatomy.
And finally, Leonardo da Vinci suffered from dyslexia. This is one of the conclusions that the researchers have reached because he had a very particular writing method , which went from left to right.
