24-01-2026, 10:40 PM
(This post was last modified: 24-01-2026, 10:42 PM by Mark Knowles.)
One advantage in this situation is that these techniques are being developed and improved all the time. And so what was once impossible with DNA is now possible. And what is now very difficult or impossible is likely to become easier.
Because of the applications in criminology and other areas isolating DNA from smaller and smaller samples has become possible. I see no reason why these trends in technological improvement will not mean that we cannot locate the author's DNA and maybe a number of other people's DNA. When the day comes I imagine the Beinecke will consent to allowing it to be done. Identifying the author or scribes would make a huge difference to Voynich research.
Look at comparisons of Richard III's DNA in surviving descendents. This kind of thing is already being done.
Because of the applications in criminology and other areas isolating DNA from smaller and smaller samples has become possible. I see no reason why these trends in technological improvement will not mean that we cannot locate the author's DNA and maybe a number of other people's DNA. When the day comes I imagine the Beinecke will consent to allowing it to be done. Identifying the author or scribes would make a huge difference to Voynich research.
Look at comparisons of Richard III's DNA in surviving descendents. This kind of thing is already being done.