ORIGIN AND GENDER DETERMINATION OF DRIED BLOOD ON A STATUE OF THE VIRGIN-MARY

In Italy, blood exudation from objects of worship recurs frequently in ancient chronicles and literature, in popular beliefs, and even in mo dem mass-media reports. This phenomenon, that was associated with epoc hal or catastrophic events, has roots that reach classical antiquity. In the last few years, several events connected with the detection of bloody ''tears'' on statues of the Virgin Mary required forensic medic ine investigations. In the present report we describe genetic investig ations conducted on dried blood of unknown derivation found on a statu ette representing the Virgin Mary. To test the human or animal origin of the blood, we amplified Alu-specific sequences from DNAs obtained f rom the unknown sample and from humans, large apes, various Old and Ne w World monkeys, a prosimian, mouse, common domestic artiodactyls and chicken. This investigation restricted the range of possible origin of the statue blood to humans, apes and Old World monkeys. To test the m ale or female origin of the blood, we used a multiplex nested polymera se chain reaction method, that allows the simultaneous amplification o f the X-specific locus DXZ4 and of the Y-specific locus SRY. Consideri ng the unlikelihood of an origin from simian Old World primates, the e xclusive amplification of the X-specific product from the unknown samp le and from human female blood controls, compared to the amplification of distinct X-and Y-specific bands from human male blood controls, st rongly supports a human female origin of the statue blood.