Those who claim themselves as descendants of Confucius would
soon know whether it is true or not by offering a hair for DNA
testing, Chinese scientists said.
Lacking proof, some people who want to be registered in the
Confucius family tree turned to scientists after DNA research
identified Florida accountant Tom Robinson as descendant of Genghis
Khan.
The Beijing Institute of Genomics of Chinese Academy of Sciences
has embarked on setting up a database of Confucius descendants with
DNA tests on a few direct ones.
Testing instrument can read the genetic information of a person
within one day, and by comparing with the database it is easy to
tell if he or she is a descendant of Confucius, said Deng Yajun, an
official with the Beijing Institute of Genomics.
Confucius (551-479 BC) was the founder of Confucianism, which
advocates the building of a harmonious society through an
individual's self-refinement in manners and taste.
(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2006)