The International Ancient Egyptian Mummy Tissue Bank at the Manchester Museum

Lambert-Zazulak, Patricia

doi:10.1017/s0003598x00066126

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Along with an international protocol for mummy investigations, the creation of a worldwide network of tissue banks would be an optimal solution. Scientists could be provided with samples for laboratory research without frequent examination of the original remains [ 84 ] and their research would generate a comparative database with which to enable more targeted scientific applications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive versus Non Invasive Methods Applied to Mummy Research: Will This Controversy Ever Be Solved?

Moissidou

Day²,

Shin

et al. 2015

BioMed Research International

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Advances in the application of non invasive techniques to mummified remains have shed new light on past diseases. The virtual inspection of a corpse, which has almost completely replaced classical autopsy, has proven to be important especially when dealing with valuable museum specimens. In spite of some very rewarding results, there are still many open questions. Non invasive techniques provide information on hard and soft tissue pathologies and allow information to be gleaned concerning mummification practices (e.g., ancient Egyptian artificial mummification). Nevertheless, there are other fields of mummy studies in which the results provided by non invasive techniques are not always self-explanatory. Reliance exclusively upon virtual diagnoses can sometimes lead to inconclusive and misleading interpretations. On the other hand, several types of investigation (e.g., histology, paleomicrobiology, and biochemistry), although minimally invasive, require direct contact with the bodies and, for this reason, are often avoided, particularly by museum curators. Here we present an overview of the non invasive and invasive techniques currently used in mummy studies and propose an approach that might solve these conflicts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive versus Non Invasive Methods Applied to Mummy Research: Will This Controversy Ever Be Solved?

Moissidou

Day²,

Shin

et al. 2015

BioMed Research International

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“…Securing tissue specimens, especially before conservation procedures, and ahead of extensive handling, may be important for future studies. At the Manchester Museum in the U.K., a tissue bank of mummified tissue samples has been created (Lambert-Zazulak, 2000). Access to such a tissue bank allows researchers to try out small trials rapidly, e.g., immunohistology (Jesziorska et al, 2003), and tissue banks may also turn out to be invaluable repositories of material for the study of the development of diseases.…”

Section: Examining a Mummymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mummies

Lynnerup

2007

Am. J. Phys. Anthropol.

170

115

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Mummies are human remains with preservation of nonbony tissue. Mummification by natural influences results in so-called natural mummies, whereas mummification induced by active (human) intervention results in so-called artificial mummies, although many cultures practiced burial rites, which to some degree involved both natural and artificial mummification. Since they are so uniquely well-preserved, mummies may give many insights into mortuary practices and burial rites. Specifically, the presence of soft tissues may expand the scope of paleopathological studies. Many recent mummy studies focus on the development and application of nondestructive methods for examining mummies, including radiography, CT-scanning with advanced three-dimensional visualizations, and endoscopic techniques, as well as minimally-destructive chemical, physical, and biological methods for, e.g., stable isotopes, trace metals, and DNA. This article discusses mummification and gives a presentation of various key mummy finds and a brief history of mummy studies. A description of the extant key technologies of natural and medical science that are applied in mummy studies is given; along with a discussion of some of the major results in terms of paleopathology. It is also shown how mummy studies have contributed much to the knowledge of the cultural habits and everyday life of past populations. Finally the impact of mummy studies on analyses of mortuary practices and cultural history is discussed. Yrbk Phys Anthropol 50: 162-190, 2007. V

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Property Rights of Ancient DNA: The Impact of Cultural Importance on the Ownership of Genetic Information

Elliott¹

2009

Int J Cult Prop

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This article examines the way property rights can be applied to DNA from ancient sources. In particular, it examines the ways in which the legal classification of a source as a "cultural artifact" can influence the assignment of property rights over genetic information. I explore the discrepancy between the legal ability to own ancient dead bodies but not nonancient dead bodies, illustrating how dead bodies with a perceived cultural value are legally distinct from those which are not considered to have cultural value. Second, I address the way such cultural preservation laws fail to influence ownership rights over genetic information. Finally, I propose a model for the best way to deal with genetic information from ancient sources, based on the policies of the International Ancient Egyptian Mummy Tissue Bank.

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The International Ancient Egyptian Mummy Tissue Bank at the Manchester Museum

Abstract: The Mummy Tissue Bank at Manchester Museum provides a new resource for Egyptian research. As Dr Lambert-Zazulak explains, new techniques of analysis and the spate of new questions about ancient diseases place this initiative at the front line.

Cited by 5 publications

References 21 publications

Invasive versus Non Invasive Methods Applied to Mummy Research: Will This Controversy Ever Be Solved?

Invasive versus Non Invasive Methods Applied to Mummy Research: Will This Controversy Ever Be Solved?

Mummies

Property Rights of Ancient DNA: The Impact of Cultural Importance on the Ownership of Genetic Information

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