Otzi the Iceman was dead 5,300 years ago, but its legacy can still be seen in his living relatives. Yes, this is true. The family members of the Iceman have been discovered by researchers after performing DNA tests.

The tests were conducted on blood donated by 3,700 people in Western Austria. The place was near the Alps, where Otzi was found melting out of a glacier in 1991.

It was revealed by researchers that 19 of those donors had a unique genetic mutation with the mummified ice man. Forensic scientist Walther Parson said in an announcement to the Austrian Press Agency that these men and the Iceman shared the same ancestors.

Using a sample of hip bone, Otzi genome was sequenced last year. The initial findings helped researchers figure out his relation with regional ethnic groups. However, they were more interested in narrowing it down this time, so as to investigate how many individual people sprang from Otzi line.

Researchers found individuals who shared same genetic mutation of the Iceman. Parson said, "There are parts of the human DNA, which are generally inherited unchanged. In men this lies on the Y chromosomes and in females on the mitochondria. Eventual changes arise due to mutations, which are then inherited further". He said this makes it possible to categorize people with the same people into so-called haplogroups.