Vlad Dracula's historical biomolecules

[Duncan Head]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/dec/11/dracula-vlad-the-impaler-letter-protein-clues

[Erpingham]

Interesting.  How do they exclude the input of all the other people who have touched the letter over time, I wonder?

[Imperial Dave]

as did I !

[DBS]

Uncharacteristically, I am trying to be really, really kind and wonder whether they have access to different letters in different locations; it reads as though they do.  In which case it may be that only Vlad or any secretary of his would be the only individuals in common.  However, that would work with DNA but probably not with the sorts of residue they seem to be pursuing, which will just tell you that someone at some time either had TB or had just eaten fish and chips or whatever when handling the document.  At which point my kindness probably dissipates into a nebulous residue...

[Nick Harbud]

Of course, with dear old Vlad's reputation, one can imagine that the letter was written on parchment made from the skin of one of his victims.  Not sure what that would tell us about Vlad's DNA.... 

[Ian61]

Of course, with dear old Vlad's reputation, one can imagine that the letter was written on parchment made from the skin of one of his victims.  Not sure what that would tell us about Vlad's DNA.... 

Fake news, Nick fake news. Lies spread by those who hate the Make Transylvania Great Again movement. He was a great man. Great man.