Abe Lincoln Blood Sample May Get DNA Test

(CBS/AP)  The head of a Philadelphia museum says its sample of Abraham Lincoln's blood may get DNA testing, but some questions must be answered first.

The 16th president's blood is on a strip of a pillowcase in the collection of the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library.

Cardiologist John Sotos believes Lincoln had a rare genetic disorder and wants the DNA test to prove his hypothesis.

Sotos, author of "The Physical Lincoln" (Mt. Vernon Book Systems), contends that Lincoln and four members of his family had a rare genetic cancer syndrome called MEN2B, and that he would have died of the disease had he not been assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

Sotos also suggests that Lincoln knew he was ill and that that knowledge would color his decisions in office - and even his famed quote that he "shall not outlast the Rebellion."

The museum's board met Monday night and rejected Sotos' request to test the pillowcase.

Board President Eric Schmincke says more questions need to be answered about how the artifact will be treated.

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

(A section of a pillowcase that the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library believes has Lincoln's blood on it from his assassination.)

He says it's possible that testing will be overseen by the National Museum of Health and Medicine.


For more info:

Dr. Sotos' diagnosis of Abraham Lincoln

[ampsanne]

I don't know why people have to bring politics into this comments column. Go somewhere else and debate on it. Stick to the subject that is at hand. We're discussing Lincoln's DNA here, so leave your political views out. Think they ought to start a website for people like you, where you can go and bash each other out!!!!

[bbpkr]

averjame, the Desperation is with you and the other rightwingnut kooks who are using the internet to broadcast your Lies, Distortions, and Hate about / toward Pres. Obama. It didn't
work on 11/04/09, yet the vicious pattern hasn't missed a beat.
The heyday of you Repug / wingnuts ended even before the '09 Elections, and it's still on a
downslide to present irrelevancy and , after 2010, 2012 at latest, you RepugliCONS will be rendered effectively politically Extinct.
Party's Over.

[ampsanne]

Lincoln had Marfan's Syndrome which eventually he would have died from. It's a rare hereditry disorder, chararacterized by unusal flexibility of joints, disproportionately long legs, flabby tissures, funnel chest or pigeon breast, spider fingers, flat foot, displacement of the eye and heart defects. I saw a TV show along time ago on Marfan's and the annoucer at that time brought it up about Lincoln. He said that Lincoln had it, and probably would have only lived another year. This program was on well over 20 years ago, and I made note of it. If they knew that then already why bother testing for DNA now. Another waste of money, as far as I'm concerned.

[flreason]

Averjane:

Please don't believe the propoganda being promulgated by fundamentalist conspiracy proponents. There are no perfect governments, but Americans are pragmatists. When the group in power starts becoming too partisan or too idealogically extreme, the American voters bring them back to center. It is a really messy way to operate...but much better than the alternatives.

Obama isn't trying to take away Second Amendment rights. He couldn't, even if he wanted to. A change to the Second Amendment would require that a bill be introduced in the Congress and passed by both houses by a 2/3 majority. If approved, it would be submitted to the states for ratification. 3/4 of the state legislatures would have to approve the amendment. The American people would NEVER let that happen.

As to Obama being great...that remains to be seen. Most Presidents have a grace period when they're elected where they have high popularity ratings. It is usually short-lived. The best thing that Americans can do is to get involved. If you have strong opinions, communicate them to your local, state, and national representatives. But understand that all of the country may not share your opinions: you win some and lose some. Most of all, practice tolerance. The fact that no one gets everything they want is probably best for everyone. Government's guiding principle should be similar to medicine's: first, do no harm.

[averjane]

To say that Obama is great is a desperate comment on behalf of those who voted for him. He will never compare in greatness or otherwise to any person with morals whether it be a past present or someone of today. He is a promoter of all that is evil and dark. He supports every kind of filthy agenda of his constituents of abortion, lascivious lifestyles, etc. He wants to take away the people's right to bear arms therefore leaving us helpless to stand against terrorists even our own government. He wants to change the government from a democracy to a socialist regime. He is popular to many for different reasons because he will stop at nothing to appease everyone and by doing so will make compromises to the most basic freedoms of the very people he governs. He will achieve the goals he has set into motion without even realizing that he is nothing more than a pawn of the devil himself. He is a small piece to the puzzle that will usher in a new way of life that many have worked hard to bring about. A government whose foundation will be taken away little by little with the removal of the principles on which it is built will collapse. Hasn?t history taught you anything? The idea of a world without absolutes that have been the very fiber that holds this nation together physically, mentally, and spiritually. We will be brainwashed into believing everything the government and media will put out and will be a mass of defenseless subjects at the hands of the likes of Hitler; total domination and control. I bet if the chips were ready for implant today, many who worship this man would be the first in line to take it on the hand or head and allow the government to support them and take care of them. The government has overstepped its boundaries and the masses have allowed it at the expense of our very freedom.

[darth_dionysus]

I agree with oneflesh. What good would this do now? What would it matter, and who really cares if Lincoln wasn't 100% healthy? Waste money on something else. He's been dead for 144 years. Let him rest in peace.

[Razzl]

"Don't waste the money because he's not related to Obama. Lincoln had class which Obama never has. If I told you once, I've told you twice, Obama is related to that wimp Jimmy Carter."

It's tragic and pathetic that the people who lost the election feel the need to flit like ghosts across the face of the internet trying to plant negative comments against Obama everywhere, however irrelevant they may be, as though that will somehow build up a groundswell of doubt in the minds of the readers. It isn't going to happen; Obama is obviously a man of great "class", grace, and education, who stands an excellent chance of being our best president. The writer of the above comments probably would not have voted for Lincoln in his time either, because little people with little resentments loathe greatness and with Obama we are indeed witnessing the beginnings of greatness (and the fulfilment of LIncoln's destiny)...

[oneflesh]

Uh-huh. Why? What is the purpose of this? What do they hope to accomplish? How will this venture benefit society?