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The Boy in the Temple

Genetic Analysis of a Royal Mystery

By Cheryld L. Emmons

The Boy in the Temple


 

Abstract

This interrupted case study examines molecular genetic evidence reported in scientific literature to determine the fate of Louis-Charles, son of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette of France. Controversy and rumors surrounding the death of Louis-Charles suggested that either he died as a young boy while being held in captivity by the French revolutionaries or he escaped and was replaced by a substitute who died in his place. One individual claiming to be Louis-Charles was Karl Naundorff. Students begin the case by preparing pedigrees for the descendants of Maria Theresa and Francis I, the Holy Roman Emperor, parents of Marie-Antoinette. The pedigrees can be used to introduce the concepts of alleles identical-by-descent and cytoplasmic inheritance patterns. Students then compare mitochondrial DNA sequences and XY chromosome sequences from hair, bone, heart, and blood samples taken from descendants of Marie Theresa, Karl Naundorff and the heart of the boy who died in captivity to determine if the latter was truly Louis-Charles. An optional PowerPoint presentation with clicker questions is available to help guide the classroom activities.

   

Date Posted

04/22/2016

Overview

Objectives

  • Interpret a pedigree for cytoplasmic inheritance.
  • Compare DNA consensus sequences for similarities and differences.
  • Evaluate the molecular evidence for potential relatedness among individuals.

Keywords

Genetics; mitochondrial DNA; mtDNA; pedigree; cytoplasmic inheritance; identical-by-descent; Louis XVII; Karl Naundorff; Marie-Antoinette; France; Temple

  

Subject Headings

Forensic Science
Genetics / Heredity

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

  

FORMAT

PDF, PowerPoint

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Clicker, Interrupted

 

 

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