CAIRO, Egypt, June 27 /PRNewswire/ --

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

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.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070627/NEW042 )

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 www.discovery.com.

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