Jo Marchant writes about the ethical issues concerning research on ancient corpses, mentioning that philosopher Søren Holm wants people involved in such work to think about whether their endeavours are "motivated by scientific inquiry or simply by curiosity" (11 September, p 17). Holm seems to forget that curiosity is the root of scientific inquiry: after all, we did not know we needed penicillin until we found out what it was useful for.
A knowledge of Tutankhamun's family history, one of the examples given in the article, could prove important for many reasons. By linking genetic sequencing with such a famous figure, you could actually increase the popularity of science in schools - something much needed given the flagging numbers of students choosing the subject.
Until we start looking, how can we know what we will find out? Research has already shown what Tutankhamun died of, and what his life ...
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