Discovery Channel's SECRETS OF EGYPT'S LOST QUEEN Reveals First

Discovery Channel's SECRETS OF EGYPT'S LOST QUEEN Reveals First

June 28, 2007

-- Discovery Quest Funds Creation of the First-Ever Ancient
DNA Test Laboratory in Egypt -


    CAIRO, Egypt, June 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- 

    Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of
Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass announced and unveiled today,
in an international press conference at Cairo's Egyptian
Museum, a 3,500-year-old mummy now positively identified as
Hatshepsut, one of history's few female pharaohs.  Using
computed tomography (CT) scanning and ongoing DNA testing,
Dr. Hawass solved the mystery of what happened to one of
ancient Egypt's most powerful and successful rulers.  Dr.
Hawass's odyssey of archeological and scientific adventure
has been documented in Discovery Channel's SECRETS OF
EGYPT'S LOST QUEEN, which premieres worldwide Sunday, July
15, 2007, at 9 PM (ET/PT).

    (Photo: http://www.xprn.com/xprn/sa/200706281521.jpg )


    The investigative journey of Dr. Hawass and his team
leads them through the massive crypts beneath Egypt and
into the depths of the Egyptian Museum.  Using knowledge of
royal Egyptian mummification and clues from two known tombs
linked to Hatshepsut, the team narrows their search for
Hatshepsut to just four mummies from thousands of
unidentified corpses.  

    CT scanning allows the scientists to link distinct
physical traits of the four mummies to those of
Hatshepsut's known relatives.  The search further narrows
to two possibilities -- both from the tomb of Hatshepsut's
wet nurse -- but the final clue lies within a canopic box
inscribed with the female pharaoh's name.  A scan of the
box finds a tooth that, when measured, perfectly matches a
missing upper molar in one of the two mummies.

    "SECRETS OF EGYPT'S LOST QUEEN brings archeology
alive for viewers.  Only Discovery Channel can provide a
context for and continually immerse viewers in these
important moments of scientific discovery," said Jane
Root, president and general manager, Discovery Channel and
The Science Channel.  "We are proud to be part of this
significant find, and commend Dr. Hawass and his team for
their hard work and dedication."

    Applied Biosystems, the leading global provider of DNA
analysis technologies, and Discovery Quest, Discovery
Channel's initiative to support the scientific community's
work, enabled the construction of and equipment for the
first-ever ancient DNA testing facility located in the
Cairo Museum in Egypt.  The DNA testing facility will not
only be used to extract and compare nuclear and
mitochondrial DNA of the Hatshepsut mummy and mummies from
her family, but will be used by scientists to examine
future finds in Egypt and attempt to clarify familial
relationships among the royal families.  The Discovery
Quest fund reaffirms Discovery Channel's commitment to
support groundbreaking research and inventions that change
our world.

    "Through Discovery Quest, Discovery Channel is at
the forefront of the most significant scientific
discoveries of our time," said Steve Burns, executive
vice president, Discovery Quest, and chief science editor. 
"The Discovery Quest program strives not only to make
these discoveries accessible for viewers, but also to make
what we hope is a positive, lasting impression on
scientific research by providing valuable resources for
equipment and research expeditions."

    Equipment from Siemens Medical Solutions allowed
scientists to conduct detailed computed tomography scanning
of each of the mummies.  By using their technology in a
project like SECRETS OF EGYPT'S LOST QUEEN, archeologists
were able to go beneath the wrappings and fragile bodies of
some of Egypt's greatest pharaohs without damaging them.

    More powerful than Cleopatra or Nefertiti, Hatshepsut
stole the throne from her young stepson, dressed herself as
a man and in an unprecedented move declared herself pharaoh.
 Though her power stretched across Egypt and her reign was
prosperous, Hatshepsut's legacy was systematically erased
from Egyptian history-historical records were destroyed,
monuments torn down and her corpse removed from her
tomb-and her death is shrouded in mystery.

    SECRETS OF EGYPT'S LOST QUEEN is produced for Discovery
Channel by Brando Quilici Productions.  Brando Quilici is
the executive producer for Brando Quilici Productions. 
Allan Butler is the executive producer for Discovery
Channel.
    
    Global premiere dates for SECRETS OF EGYPT'S LOST
QUEEN:
    US                   July 15 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT)
    Asia                 July 15 at 9:00 PM
    Australia/NZ         July 15 at 7:30 PM
    Latin America        July 15 at 9:00 PM (local time
Brasilia, 
                         Buenos Aires, Caracas, Mexico
City, Miami and 
                         Santiago)/8 PM (Bogota time)
    UK                   July 17 at 8:00 PM
    Taiwan               July 22 at 9:00 PM
    India                August 19
    Italy                October 20 at 9:00 PM
    Japan                August TBD
    China                August TBD 
    Europe/Middle East   Autumn 2007 

    About Discovery Communications 

    Discovery Communications is the number-one nonfiction
media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative
subscribers in over 170 countries. Through TV and digital
media, Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks include
Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel,
Discovery Health and Discovery HD Theater. Discovery
Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (Nasdaq:
DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S.
Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more
information please visit http://www.discovery.com . 

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