Discovered the 5,000-year-old ancestor of the living

Scientists say it has established a genetic link between three North American women, one of whom died 5,000 years ago, one 2,500 years ago, and the other still alive.

Evidence shows that survivors, a Tsimshian aboriginal in British Columbia (Canada), are descendants of those who died centuries ago, according to PostMedia News.

All three contain the same type of DNA mitochondria, which is transmitted from mother to child, according to the PLoS ONE report.

Ripan Malhi expert with interlaced genealogy tree up to 200 years - (Photo: University of Illinois)

Ripan Malhi of the University of Illinois (USA), one of the study participants, said his team also established a genetic relationship between two skeletons excavated in Alaska and British Columbia, with one the set is over 10,000 years old and the other is about 6,000 years old.

In this case, the experts did not find any link existing, ie, no one was found to have contact with the two skeletons.

The most famous case of using DNA mitochondria is the identification of the remains of a human skeleton under the parking lot in Leicester (England). Later, the character was identified as King Richard III, who died in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

Scientists have discovered the parallels between the king's DNA and a Canadian furniture manufacturer, identified as descendants of the King Richard sisters.

However, the discovery in British Columbia is judged to be shocking, due to the continent's investigation of up to 200 generations, while King Richard is only 17 generations away from the distant descendant.