DNA fingerprint for Hippocrates' legendary tree

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27190148


A clone of the Hippocrates Tree was planted at the National Library of Medicine this month


Legend has it that Hippocrates, the ancient Greek "father" of medicine, taught his students under a tree on the island of Kos.

More than 25 centuries later, experts in the US have produced the first DNA barcode of the Oriental plane that is believed to be its descendant.

The original tree died centuries ago but the Greeks believe one of its descendents grows in the same place.

"In terms of symbolism this is huge," said team member Amy Driskell.