Groundbreaking DNA analysis of Adolf Hitler's blood has uncovered some extraordinary findings about the dictator's ancestry and possible health conditions.
Painstaking scientific testing by a team of international experts has been able to debunk a rumour on whether Hitler had Jewish ancestry (he didn't) and determine that he had a genetic disorder which affects the the development of sexual organs - all from an old blood-stained swatch of fabric.
While clickbait headlines have focused on whether the Nazi dictator had a micropenis and only one testicle, more serious are the findings that his DNA showed very high scores - in the top 1% - for a predisposition to autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Does this mean he had these neurological conditions? Absolutely not, say the experts - it's not a diagnosis.
But nevertheless, concerns have been raised about stigmatisation and how ethical the research was, prompting the question - should it have been done at all?
I agonised over it, says Prof Turi King within the first few minutes of Saturday's Channel 4 documentary on the research, *Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator*.
The genetics expert told the BBC that when she was first approached to take part in the project several years ago, she was very aware of the potential implications of studying the DNA of someone like Adolf Hitler - I'm not interested in sensationalising things.
She emphasized the importance of conducting the research with academic rigour and the necessary ethical considerations. Historian Dr. Alex Kay noted how such findings could shed light on Hitler's private life, explaining his intense devotion to politics.
The bloodied swatch of fabric - now 80 years old - was cut from the sofa in Hitler's underground bunker, where he killed himself when Allied forces descended on Berlin at the end of World War Two.
The swatch has been closely linked to Hitler's DNA through rigorous scientific methods, ultimately revealing significant information about the dictator's lineage and potential health issues, including Kallmann syndrome.
However, the documentary's exploration of Hitler's supposed neurodiversity has drawn criticism, with some experts questioning the accuracy and implications of suggesting he had predispositions towards certain mental health problems.
Prof Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre, voiced concerns over the risk of stigma associated with linking genetic predisposition to negative historical actions, highlighting that behavior is influenced by more than just biology.
Reception of the documentary has been mixed, with the UK's National Autistic Society asserting that it undermines the feelings of autistic individuals, calling the findings a cheap stunt. The ethics of analyzing Hitler's DNA, without consent or descendants, remains a significant topic of discussion.
In conclusion, while this analysis helps build a profile of Hitler, it raises important questions about how we perceive individuals through a genetic lens and the responsibilities tied to communicating such information to the public.
