University of Waterloo researchers have successfully identified four crew members from Sir John Franklin's ill-fated 1845 Arctic expedition using DNA analysis of skeletal remains.

The Franklin expedition, led by British Royal Navy officer Sir John Franklin, departed England in 1845 with two ships and 129 crew members in search of the Northwest Passage through the Arctic. The expedition became one of the most famous maritime disasters in history when all crew members perished after the ships became trapped in ice.

Researchers utilized DNA extracted from skeletal remains to make positive identifications of four sailors from the expedition's crew. The identification process represents a significant advancement in efforts to learn more about the fate of Franklin's men, nearly 180 years after their disappearance.

The Franklin expedition has captivated historians and researchers for generations, with numerous search efforts launched over the decades to locate the ships and remains of the crew. The HMS Erebus was discovered in 2014, followed by HMS Terror in 2016, both found in Canadian Arctic waters.

The successful DNA identifications add to the growing body of knowledge about the expedition's tragic end and provide closure for descendants of the crew members. The research demonstrates how modern forensic techniques can shed new light on historical mysteries from centuries past.