Lincoln's Genes

Once again, researchers speculate about a condition that may have troubled our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Some years ago, researchers thought he might have had Marfan Syndrome because of his great height, long limbs and spidery fingers. It was of particular interest to me and my first husband, who'd been diagnosed with Marfan in 1987. Eventually, he died of complications of the syndrome.

The only way to determine whether Mr. Lincoln had Marfan was to disturb his body and do genetic testing. There was support for doing that, especially from people with Marfan. I guess they would have felt "better" if they knew that someone like Mr. Lincoln also suffered from Marfan. Now, when I say "better" I mean it in the way that there is a sense of relief or kinship you get when you know you're not alone in something.

In the 1990s, a geneticist asked the National Museum of Health and Medicine to test Lincoln's hair and bones to find out if the president had Marfan syndrome, a disorder that affects connective tissue, blood vessels and eyes, and can produce fatal abnormalities of major arteries. Marfan's sufferers often have unusual height and elongated fingers, toes and limbs - all characteristics of Lincoln.

But multiple panels decided "the greater public good is served by not destroying this non-renewable national historic treasure," according to the museum's Web site.

Bauer, the Lincoln museum curator, said that when Lincoln's tomb was renovated about 100 years ago, his last living son made it clear he did not want his father's remains disturbed.

That should be an overriding factor, Bauer said.

"His last living descendant, still alive, saying, 'Don't bother my father anymore.' ... If DNA testing was alive in the early 1900s, I think he would say the same thing," he said.

Now researchers have discovered a gene mutation in 11 generations of relatives descended from Mr. Lincoln. He doesn't have any direct descendants himself because all four of his sons died without having offspring--I'm assuming that Robert Lincoln didn't have any kids of his own even though he married and lived to be 82.

The gene mutation causes a type of ataxia called spinocerebellar ataxia type 5. It affects coordination of walking among other things. Mr. Lincoln had a clumsy gait and now scientists wonder if he might have had this type of ataxia. He had a 25% chance of inheriting it. The only way to be sure, again, is to get Lincoln's DNA and test it.

Once again, people who have ataxia say if they knew Lincoln had the same condition, it would give them hope and destigmatize the disability.

But on the other hand, the family's wishes should be respected--leave the man alone.

Ours is a house of troubles this week. Everyone is sick with a plaguey virus that makes us ache, cough and wheeze...no, it's not the flu. My hubby has been laid off from work and this is a very bad thing for us. He'll probably be laid off all next week too. It's going to be a little rough.

Top 5 On Friday:

Other than your current job, what are your top 5 professions you would rather do?

Author of published books
Paid Blogger
Online entrepreneur
Teacher
Librarian


Five on Friday:

1. What is your favorite beverage? Why?

Water...when I'm really thirsty it's the only beverage that satisfies and refreshes me.

2. Your preference: Tea, coffee, or hot cocoa?

Coffee

3. Favorite thing do drink in the heat of summer?

Lemonade

4. Worst beverage you've ever tasted?

Beer--yuck! And yet, I even developed a taste for it!

5. How do you take your water: flavored, bottled, carbonated, or straight from the tap?

Yes