The Fudan Research Group responded to this question: Studying Cao Cao’s DNA is no joke. The following are written materials collected and published by Xiaoyi Search.

Let’s take a quick look!

Recently, the joint research group of history and anthropology at Fudan University announced the latest results of DNA research on the Cao Cao family, discovering a rare gene type that is unique within the family.

Netizens are already talking about it.

In response to the issue of netizens having nothing to do after dinner and playing with scientific research funds, experts from the research team said that scientific research is not a joke, and helping people to recognize their ancestors and return to their ancestors is utilitarian.

This time's research results have confirmed for the first time at the genetic level that many people with the same surname thousands of years ago did indeed belong to the same family.

Interdisciplinary collaborations between life sciences and history will also help to uncover more historical mysteries.

■Focus 1. Is Cao Cao’s DNA research a fund?

Previously, the authenticity of Cao Cao's tomb in Anyang, Henan Province aroused widespread controversy in society.

Now, Fudan has announced the results of DNA research on the Cao Cao family.

Is he suspected of soliciting funds in the name of Cao Cao?

Han En, a professor of history at Fudan University and vice president of the China Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties History Society, said that searching for Cao Cao's family is a scientific necessity and also an accidental factor.

Many countries in the world have successful cases of using genetic technology to study history, but they are mainly concentrated in the prehistoric period.

We hope to apply this approach to periods of recorded history.

At this time, Anyang, Henan, claimed to have discovered Cao Cao's tomb.

We thought genetics could provide evidence for the authenticity of Cao Cao's tomb, so we tried to do that.

Furthermore, tracing Cao Cao's genetic footprint is relatively easy.

Li Hui, a professor at the Key Laboratory of Modern Anthropology at Fudan University, explained: First of all, the Cao Cao family is a royal family with relatively complete genealogical records.

If you randomly find an ordinary person's family tree, it will either be intermittent or lack records, and there is absolutely no way to do research. Secondly, Cao Cao is a controversial figure in history, so there are not many forgers, which is objectively guaranteed.

Third, the tombs of the Cao family are relatively concentrated, with good preservation conditions and rich information, so the research team quickly found the first entry point and identified ancient DNA samples for testing.

2. Is this study about having nothing to do after meals?

Many netizens are wondering, what is the academic significance of discovering Cao Cao's DNA?

There have been many similar studies without nutrition in the past.

For example: 43 of the 108 heroes in Liangshan are not heroes, and Li Bai is the first young and dangerous person in the Tang Dynasty... Is Ren Lei's conclusion good for modern times and the future?

Experts from the research team responded that this study is not to have nothing to do after dinner, nor is it to help people reconnect with their ancestors, but to prove the advantages and breakthroughs of interdisciplinary research.

Fudan's research results confirm for the first time that many people with the same surname thousands of years ago were indeed a family.

Interdisciplinary collaborations between life sciences and history will also help to uncover more historical mysteries.

Han En said that in the study of Cao Cao's family DNA, the research team verified that the family genes of Cao Shen, the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, had nothing to do with Cao Cao's family genes, thus proving that Cao Cao was a descendant of Cao Shen; secondly, folklore said that Cao Cao's surname was derived from Cao Cao

For those whose descendants changed their surnames, genetic verification showed that there was no clear genetic relationship between the two surnames; in addition, research also showed that the existing Xiahou genes were inconsistent with Cao Cao's family genes, so the statement that Cao Cao was adopted by Xiahou was inaccurate.

Han said that based on this research project, Fudan University is expected to emerge as a new discipline - historical anthropology - involving both anthropologists and historians.