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)