Thomas Jefferson DNA test 'proof' he fathered kids with slave

Key Points:

• Cutting-edge DNA testing of Thomas Jefferson’s hair has provided strong evidence that he fathered children with his slave Sally Hemings, confirming long-standing historical speculation.
• The Smithsonian-led project sequenced Jefferson’s entire genome and compared it with DNA from 13 descendants of Jefferson and Hemings, concluding the odds that Jefferson did not father Hemings’ sons are less than one in 1,000.
• The advanced genetic techniques developed for this project have also been instrumental in solving high-profile criminal cases, including the Gilgo Beach murders and the Golden State Killer case.
• Despite some controversy, including a Hemings descendant withdrawing participation over publication timing concerns, the study has been welcomed by many descendants who see it as a step toward recognition and acknowledgment of their shared history.
• The project began in 2011 when researchers found Jefferson’s hair in a personal Bible, and after extensive analysis and simulations, it provided compelling scientific insight into Jefferson’s relationship with Hemings.