Oetzi's Health, People, and Murder: The Death of an Iceman
The study on a 5,300-year-old Iceman could help shed information on health related issues, although health issues are not the most fascinating thing about this Iceman.
Oetzi has become one of the world's most researched cadavers. He was found in the Italian Alps in 1991; due to cold weather his body had been well preserved. In 2008 scientists reported the complete sequence of DNA taken from Oetzi's cellular mitochondria, which suggested that he was from a different people.
To form a more clear understanding, a more specific DNA test was done from the nuclei of cells taken from a sliver of the iceman's pelvic bone. The new data has revealed more specific traits of Oetzi, including that he was lactose intolerant with brown eyes and type-O blood.
Scientists suspect that based on his DNA, that Oetzi came from a population in Europe that has now all but vanished. His genes also suggest that he was predisposed to coronary heart disease and had large amount of a bacteria that leads to Lyme disease. This information suggests that his diagnosis may be the most early known case of Lyme disease.
Aside from contributing to the world of health, Oetzi is also on his way to becoming a celebrity. Oetzi may be the first one to ever have to deal with back stabbers as the Iceman died with an arrow in his back. Oetzi is the subject of an international murder investigation. He has appeared on PBS in the "Iceman Murder Mystery." Theories have suggested that Iceman was either hunted or the victim of an ambush.
