DNA identifies four more crew members of doomed Franklin expedition
Summary
Scientists used DNA analysis to identify four more members of Captain Sir John S. Franklin’s lost 1846 Arctic expedition crew. The DNA came from remains found in Canada, and researchers compared them to samples from relatives. The discoveries give more details about the fate of the expedition’s crew.Key Facts
- Franklin’s expedition aimed to cross the Northwest Passage in 1846 but got trapped in Arctic ice.
- Both ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, were lost, and all 129 crew members died.
- Remains were found near King William Island, Canada, decades after the expedition disappeared.
- DNA testing compares old bones and teeth with samples from descendants.
- In 2021, the body of chief engineer John Gregory was identified by DNA.
- By 2024, four more crew members were identified, including Captain James Fitzjames.
- Fitzjames’ remains showed signs of cannibalism, confirming historical Inuit accounts.
- The shipwrecks were found in 2014 and 2016 and are well-preserved due to cold water and silt.
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