Evening Post reporter Zhang Qianqian reports: Since 2009, Fudan University has been conducting DNA research on Cao Cao's family and soliciting DNA samples from men with the surname Cao across the country. This morning, Fudan University released its research results, which were jointly completed by experts in biology and history from the university. By analyzing the DNA of modern people with the surname Cao and cross-referencing it with historical records, local gazetteers, genealogies, and other historical materials, they identified six Cao clans as the most likely descendants of Cao Cao. This study was the first in the world to precisely trace genetic research back to an ancient family. The related paper was recently published in the internationally renowned academic journal "Human Heredity," receiving recognition from international peers. Meanwhile, "The Modern Anthropology Newsletter" also published a Chinese translation.
Six Most Likely Descendants of Cao Cao Identified
In a small village in Shucheng County, Anhui Province, the majority of the villagers share the surname Cao, and their ancestral hall is named Yi Yi Tang. One summer day last year, the arrival of the research team from Fudan University brought joy to this large family. After sampling and verification, they discovered that they indeed share the same gene - O2-M268 type - with another Cao clan in Shucheng County known as Qi Bu Tang. Moreover, they found blood relatives in Liaoning, Anhui, Hunan, and Jiangsu provinces. Could they be descendants of Cao Cao?
In 2009, Fudan University initiated DNA research on Cao Cao's family and solicited DNA samples from men with the surname Cao nationwide to find his descendants. The entire research process was divided into biological and historical lines, mutually corroborating each other. First, the genetics laboratory widely collected DNA samples from contemporary males with the surname Cao to create a genetic map, examining how many ancestors the Cao surname might have originated from. Then, historians analyzed various sources to uncover possible clues about Cao Cao's descendants. For the first time, hundreds of Cao family genealogies were comprehensively studied and compared with historical books and local gazetteers to identify any potential connections, such as whether the current residences of various Cao clans matched the recorded migration patterns of Cao Cao's descendants. From this, eight Cao clans with genealogies and historical analysis deemed credible were selected.
By comparing DNA samples from these eight Cao clans, it was discovered that six families belonged to the O2-M268 genetic type, while the other two did not share common genes. Finally, Fudan's laboratory conducted precise sequence detection of 5 million points on the Y-chromosome DNA of these key samples, ultimately proving that the ancestor convergence point for these six O2-M268 type samples was between 1800 to 2000 years ago.
This research, mutually verified, indicates that these six Cao clans are the most likely descendants of Cao Cao.
More than 90% Certainty from Multiple Evidence Chains
Did Cao Cao really have descendants? Professor Han Jian of Fudan University's History Department and Vice President of the Chinese Society for the Study of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties stated that Sima Yi did not slaughter any of Cao Cao's descendants during the transition of power. "Sima Yi concentrated the Cao family in Ye Cheng under surveillance. Records of Cao Cao's descendants can be found in official registers from the Wei-Jin period to the Tang Dynasty."
Among the 7 million people with the surname Cao nationwide, although these six Cao clans all share the same genetic type, why claim that these six Cao clans are Cao Cao's descendants? How credible is this research?
Experts from the research team stated that historical research often cannot reach a hundred percent correct conclusion. Based on existing multiple evidence chains, through comprehensive analysis using various recognized research methods such as human statistics and forensic science, the probability should be over 90%.
"These six families do not know each other, scattered across the south and north, and there is almost no way for them to collude falsely. Moreover, these genealogical records have existed for a very long time, compiled much earlier." Professor Li Hui from Fudan University's School of Life Sciences explained that the O2-M268 type of these six populations itself is a rare genetic type, accounting for only about 5% of the national population. "Thus, the probability that they are impostors is only three in ten million, which forensic science can certify as genuine."
The most important evidence is that after full-sequence precise testing, their common ancestor lived around 1800 years ago. From the genealogy, they originate from different branches like Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, and those from the same branch are genetically closer. To exclude them being Cao Cao's descendants, there would be only one scenario: this ancestor impersonated Cao Cao 1800 years ago and made his children impersonate several sons of Cao Cao, continuing this impersonation unchanged for 1800 years, which is extremely unlikely.
Verification of Multiple Historical Mysteries with the Same Method
Han Jian introduced that in this Cao Cao family DNA research, more than just finding Cao Cao's descendants, the research team also used the same method to verify the genetic lineage of the Han dynasty Chancellor Cao Can's family, showing no relation to Cao Cao's family, thus proving that the claim Cao Cao was Cao Can's descendant could be fabricated; secondly, there is a legend that the surname 'Cao' originated from Cao Cao's descendants changing their surnames to avoid disaster, but gene verification showed no clear genetic relationship between these two surnames; additionally, studies indicated that the existing Xiahou family genes do not match Cao Cao's family genes, making the claim that Cao Cao was adopted from the Xiahou family highly likely to be slander from later generations.
Regarding the widespread public attention on whether DNA technology can verify the remains in the Anyang Cao Cao tomb, Li Hui explained that technically, as long as the preservation is good, samples within 50,000 years should be detectable. However, due to various reasons, there has not yet been an agreement with relevant parties, though they welcome the examination of the remains.
It is understood that previous international DNA research results could only determine the race and ethnicity of a modern person or an ancient sample. This Cao family DNA study, however, was the first in the world to precisely trace genetic research back to an ancient family. It benefited from China's stable tradition of surname inheritance and rich humanistic data including genealogies, potentially offering us a new understanding of the history of human reproduction and development and the evolution of human genes, which should hold greater significance than merely identifying who is a descendant of Cao Cao.
Currently, based on this research project, Fudan University has begun to establish a new discipline of historical anthropology involving both genetics and history, hoping to study the historical integration, evolution, and development of the Chinese nation through cooperation between modern biotechnology and historical document research, potentially unveiling more historical mysteries that traditional research cannot answer.
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Surnames Contain Human "Genetic Codes"
According to experts, each human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, including 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. A female's sex chromosome composition is XX, while a male's is XY. When a couple has a son, the father's Y chromosome DNA is passed to the son's Y chromosome but cannot be passed to the daughter. If the father has a son, the son has a grandson, and the grandson has a great-grandson, the Y chromosome continues to be passed down. Without gene mutation, every male possesses the same Y chromosome as his ancestors.
This means that a person's surname can become an important marker in biological genetics, inherited among the males of a family, marked on the Y chromosome. The continuous replication of the "genetic code" allows scientists to test the genetic information of the Y chromosome and compare it, thereby determining the surnames of people with certain Y chromosome characteristics.
Fudan University has started to build a new interdisciplinary field of historical anthropology involving genetics and history, hoping to conduct research through cooperation between modern biotechnology and historical document studies, focusing on studying the historical integration, evolution, and development of the Chinese nation, and potentially unraveling more historical mysteries that traditional research cannot answer.
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