Posted on 05/14/2024 9:24:55 AM PDT by algore
The oldest human viruses, including herpes, have been uncovered in 50,000-year-old Neanderthal bones - and experts could soon recreate them.
Researchers at Brazil's Federal University of São Paulo identified remnants of the herpesviruses, which causes cold sores, the sexually transmitted papillomavirus and adenovirus, also known as the common cold, in two male Neanderthals' DNA found in a Russian cave.
Previous theories suggested that Neanderthals may have gone extinct because of viruses and the latest study may be the first to provide evidence for this idea.
Now, the team hopes to synthesize the viruses and infect human cells in a lab to see how they compare to their modern-day counterparts.
The oldest human viruses, including herpes, have been uncovered in 50,000-year-old Neanderthal bones - and experts could soon recreate them.
Researchers at Brazil's Federal University of São Paulo identified remnants of the herpesviruses, which causes cold sores, the sexually transmitted papillomavirus and adenovirus, also known as the common cold, in two male Neanderthals' DNA found in a Russian cave.
Previous theories suggested that Neanderthals may have gone extinct because of viruses and the latest study may be the first to provide evidence for this idea.
Now, the team hopes to synthesize the viruses and infect human cells in a lab to see how they compare to their modern-day counterparts.
The study reported that researchers believe the 'Herpesviruses, in particular, might have been a major cause for Neanderthal extinction,' but need to conduct additional testing to confirm the findings.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
What have they done with the Spanish Flu “ samples” they dug out of the permafrost graves?
Ask Dugway Proving Grounds Duke...
Paleovirology—Modern Consequences of Ancient Viruses
Michael Emerman and Harmit S. Malik
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2817711/
Precisely
Salamander wrote: “What have they done with the Spanish Flu “ samples” they dug out of the permafrost graves?”
Google provides an answer: used to develop a vaccine for the spanish flu.
the spanish flu killed one of my grandmothers.
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