Mitochondrial DNA is indeed only inherited from one's mother.
Tests on mitochondrial DNA would not be of use in proving paternity, but other
tests on chromosomal (or 'nuclear,' or 'genomic') DNA, such as RFLP (restriction
fragment length pattern) or STR (short tandem repeat) are available to either
rule out parentage or to give a probability that a given man or woman is parent
to a particular child. These are the tests that are usually used in paternity
suits, or in forensic testing at crime scenes.
Unfortunately, for such testing to be useful, there has to be parental DNA
available for comparison. Anyone who claims to be son of HIH Tsarevitch Alexis
Nicolaievitch of Russia could prove such a claim (or fail to) if his father's DNA
is available for comparison. (It could be taken from a living father, a dead
father's remains, or a father's histologic specimen. Claimants with a cremated
father and no leftover pieces are pretty much out of luck.) You could establish
that the DNA came from the putative Tsarevitch by establishing that his
mitochondrial DNA was identical to Alexandra's, and that the STR of his
chromosomal DNA matched that of Nicholas II. You would also have to establish
that his STR matched that of the claimant. The mitochondrial DNA of the claimant
would match his mother's, whoever she may be.
Alexandra and her children were identified by comparing their mitochondrial
DNA to Prince Philip's (the children, Alexandra, and Philip were descendants
through maternal lines of HRH Princess Alice Maud Mary of Great Britain &
Ireland, daughter of Queen Victoria).
Nicholas was identified by comparing his mitochondrial DNA to that of Xenia
Sfiris and James George Alexander Bannerman Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife.
Nicholas, Xenia, and James were all descended maternally from Louise of
Hesse-Cassel. (Nicholas's mitochondrial DNA showed heteroplasmy, meaning he had
more than one form of mitochondrial DNA). His (and his daughter's) chomosomal DNA
was also tested for STR (short tandem repeat) to confirm that he was the father
of the girls found with him.
Anna Anderson (aka Fräulein Unbekannt, Mrs. Alexander Tschaikovsky, and Anna
Manahan) had mitochondrial DNA that did not match that of Louise of Hesse-Cassel,
and had STR's that matched Franziska Schanzkowska's grand-nephew Karl Maucher,
which pretty much proves that she was Franziska Schanzkowska and not Grand
Duchess Anastasia. (And, I think, proving that no matter what secret passwords
she knew or physical resemblances one thinks one sees, one ought not accept an
Anastasia that couldn't speak Russian!)
I know nothing of Michael Gray, but in view of the unlikelihood of the
Tsarevitch's survival, any claims about his DNA should be taken sceptically and
confirmed independently. One would also hope that confirmatory genetic testing
would be performed on any remains thought to be the 2 missing Ekaterinburg bodies
before announcing they were found!
Has anyone made a list of all the putative Anastasia's and Alexi's? I imagine it
would be quite long.
Oh, it is! Since reading Michael Gray's book recently(and writing a critique for its
publisher -- a VERY long paper and a most enjoyable job as I love the historical
detective work in stitching up these impostors), I began such a list. There are a
couple of dozen contenders on there, including an Australian who claims to be the
reincarnation of both Alexei and James Dean(while his sister is apparently the
reincarnation of GD Tatiana and Pier Angeli)! And I'm sure there are a few more to
add. The one I'd like to know more about is the Olga of Lake Como, Marga Boodts --
does anyone have any suggestion for sources?
Penny
Dennis Cunniff
-----------------
Tsarevich did survive the incident a Yekaterineburg, and essentially that
the author is his son. This has been 'proved' by DNA tests on the author, by
Professor Popov (one of the experts in charge of the analysis of the bones)
showing that this Michael Gray is indeed a close relative of the
Tsarina.
How? Myocardional ( sp.) DNA is only passed through the female line, not the
male. The Tsarevich had his mother's DNA but could not pass it on to his
decendents.
RC
