Egypt will carry out a study of DNA tests on two mummified fetuses discovered in the tomb of King Tutankhamun to identify whether they have links to the legendary boy king in ancient Egypt, the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) said on Wednesday.
Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni announced the SCA project in cooperation with Cairo University's Faculty of Medicine, where the mummified fetuses have been stored since their discovery in Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 on Luxor's west bank.
It is thought that the tiny bodies may be those of the young king's stillborn children, said the statement.
Hosni said the scientific team led by Ashraf Selim, head of Cairo Scan, and Yehia Zakaria of the National Research Center have carried out a CT scan on the two mummified fetuses and took samples for DNA tests.
SCA Secretary General Zahi Hawwas said the study aims at identifying the linage and the family of King Tutankhamun, particularly his parents.
The DNA tests and the CT scan may also help to identify the fetuses' mother, Hawwas added.
The tomb of Tutankhamun, who ruled in the 18th Dynasty of Egypt's New Kingdom, was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922 caused an international sensation because of the value and quality of its contents.
Source: Xinhua
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