Ancient DNA reveals 37,000 Years of Human Disease History
London – More than 37,000 years of infectious diseases in humans have been mapped by scientists, with academics pointing to one particular behavior from our ancestors as playing a “key role” in their spread.
Involving researchers from various universities in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Australia, this study involved DNA analysis of more than 1,300 prehistoric humans dating back 37,000 years. The research also included DNA recovery related to 214 known pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Academics discovered the oldest genetic traces of the bacteria that cause plague, yersinia pestis, in a 5,500-year-old sample. They also found traces of leprosy from 1,400 years ago, malaria from 4,200 years ago, hepatitis B from 9,800 years ago, and diphtheria from 11,100 years
