In the realm of mitochondrial analysis, scientists have been able to find the origin of the famed Iceman. During the early 1990’s, Professor Bryan Sykes made a significant breakthrough in ancestor lineages. In attempts to date the Iceman, many scientists had found that the DNA, although preserved for thousands of years, had been extensively damaged during excavation. By comparing rates of mutations, Sykes was not only able to date the Iceman, but also found a living ancestor of the Iceman in England. By performing this experiment, Sykes found a substitute for damaged DNA, which would be as effective as any other component of a cell.