Researchers have successfully verified and sequenced DNA attributed to Adolf Hitler, a new documentary reveals. The findings, presented in the documentary “Hitler’s DNA,” confirm long-held beliefs about the Nazi leader’s ancestry and have allowed scientists to analyze his genetic predispositions to certain conditions.
The research, led by geneticists at the University of Cambridge and detailed in the documentary, utilized samples reportedly collected from Hitler’s relatives and verified through genealogical research. While the DNA analysis cannot explain Hitler’s actions, it offers a unique, albeit unsettling, glimpse into his genetic makeup and potential vulnerabilities. The study underscores the complex interplay between genetics and behavior, and the limitations of using genetic facts to predict individual outcomes.
According to the documentary, researchers compared Hitler’s polygenic risk score – a calculation of genetic predisposition to certain traits – with those of 30,000 Danish people. Dr. Romana Demontis, a geneticist involved in the research, found that Hitler’s score for schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar disorder was higher than 99% of the Danish population. “We can say somthing at a group level but not an individual level,” Demontis emphasized, clarifying that polygenic risk scores are currently only used in research and are not diagnostic.
Researchers were careful to emphasize that a high polygenic risk score does not equate to a predetermined outcome. “It’s not diagnostic, and I also want to stress that the score absolutely by no means leads to any certain kinds of behavior or actions,” Demontis said. Professor Joanna King, also involved in the study, added, “We are at great, great pain not to stigmatize people with these conditions, as… it’s incredibly rare that people with these conditions go on to commit violent acts.”
The analysis also highlights the importance of considering broader historical and societal factors. “And the other thing is that Hitler did not act alone, he had hundreds and thousands of people who helped him,” King noted. ”They’re not all going to have the same genetic makeup as him. His genetics is just a small, small puzzle piece.”
The documentary “hitler’s DNA” is set to air[Date/Channel-[Date/Channel-[Date/Channel-[Date/Channel-information not provided in source text].
