Researchers studying Ötzi the Iceman have identified microorganisms linked to both his original body and the glacier that preserved him, according to ScienceDaily. Using a range of sampling methods, the team worked to separate microbes that lived in Ötzi during his lifetime from those that arrived later.
Genetic material recovered from internal tissues showed bacteria that were part of Ötzi’s original gut flora. The scientists also found cold-adapted yeast species they believe likely came from the glacier and have remained associated with the mummy to the present day.
The investigation drew on ice from the mummy’s surface, meltwater from inside the body, swabs, and previously collected data from intestinal tissue and stomach contents. Researchers also examined a soil sample taken from the discovery site in 1991, which had remained frozen since collection.
According to the study, Ötzi’s gut microbiome resembles the limited number of microbiomes known from early human populations and differs from many bacteria common in modern industrialized societies. The newly identified yeasts were found in skin, meltwater, and stomach samples, and their genetic ties to strains from extremely cold places, including Antarctica, suggest a glacial origin.
The team said the findings show both ancient and modern DNA on the mummy, meaning some microorganisms may still be surviving in a dormant state under current storage conditions. Researchers say the work could improve preservation methods for Ötzi and other ancient remains, while also offering possible uses for cold-adapted microorganisms in low-temperature industrial processes.
