Posted on 12/30/2021 12:31:53 PM PST by BenLurkin
Using mummy head lice cement gathered from South American mummified remains dating back 1,500-2,000 years, the study’s new analysis technique can now be used when recovered bodies are void of teeth and bones. Natural History, England, and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Until the development of this new way of analyzing ancient DNA, archaeologists were restricted to samples gathered only from bone or tooth fragments . The new DNA technique was useful because most of the sampled mummies were exposed to extremely cold temperatures when they died. Lice depend on the host's head heat to gestate their eggs and they lay their eggs closer to the human scalp in colder environments, where they are better preserved.
Dr. Alejandra Perotti said, “demand for DNA samples from ancient human remains has grown in recent years” as scientific teams are more often looking at “migration and diversity in ancient human populations.” Recovering DNA from head lice cement is the perfect solution to this problem of rising scientific demand. Furthermore, the fact that nits are found on the hair and clothes of well preserved and mummified ancient humans, means there will be less need to exhume entire cemeteries looking for rare DNA-holding bone and tooth samples. For obvious reasons, South American indigenous peoples have often had issues with foreign researchers messing up their ancestors' graves in the name of science.
Analysis of the recovered DNA from nit cement revealed a genetic link between three of the mummies and humans in Amazonia around 2,000 years ago. This demonstrated that the original population of Argentina’s San Juan province had migrated from the Amazon . Furthermore, the migration pattern of human lice was mapped from the North Amazonian plains towards Central West Argentina ( San Juan Andes ).
(Excerpt) Read more at ancient-origins.net ...
ping
“For obvious reasons, South American indigenous peoples have often had issues with foreign researchers messing up their ancestors’ graves in the name of science.”
Grave robbers should be shot on sight.
L
There it is, we’re descendants of lice.
Watched a British program a while back about the Great Plague of London in 1665. They conducted experiments that proved human body lice was highly responsible for spreading the disease, not just fleas. Body lice was very prevalent at that time.
Mayflower lice!
Fascinating! Thanks for posting.
Merkel cell Polyomavirus:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3522868/
Merkel cell carcinoma is nasty. I had no idea a virus was involved.
I’ve had it and continually look out for a recurrence. It’s like nothing’s there one day, the next day...a pimple...a few days later a good sized wart...quarter to three-eights inch tall soon. Itchy and painful. My dermatologists/plastic surgeon cuts it out. Had several...chest, arm, leg. The doc tells me, when I hit ten, he’ll give me 25% off a facelift. He gave me a punch card. LOL.
Oh man, that’s so awful! Seriously! I am sorry you have been going through this! I have an in-law who had it and still careful, but he only had it the one time some years ago.
My Dad kept getting squamous cell carcinomas and also melanomas.
I don’t know if it helps or not for Merkel cell, but I found this in the NEJM and asked his surgeon about it and he said he had seen it, too, and enthusiastically recommended it (Vitamin B3 prevents recurrence of squamous cell by 70%). This is a quality study:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1506197
NAC is effective against non-metastatic melanoma cell lines, but can actually cause proliferation of metastatic cells, as it interferes with the body’s natural cytotoxic T cells. Resveratrol is effective against both:
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2149048
In case they have the same effect in Merkel cell, something to consider and discuss with your doctor. (As in, you might want to think twice about taking NAC without asking your doctor about it first.)
The above is not anywhere near the calibre of the NEJM study. There are mainly only in vitro and mouse studies available on NAC and Resveratrol re skin cancers. Still, something to consider.
Checking my resume ... nope, nothing like searching for head lice cement on it.
Bummer. That's another job category that I don't qualify for.
The Louse That Roared
I’ll research that, thanks.
Yeah, the first I became aware of it was one on my mother’s arm. She was doing nothing about it, so I set up an appt with a dermatologist. As soon as I saw one on me...I knew what it was...and was quick to respond. I also have a standing visit with the doctor every six months. Its not so bad because I stay on top of it.
Thanks again for the info.
Thanks BenLurkin. Most of my GGG posting was done the day or so after the last week's digest, I've just processed the Archaeologica page for my convenience, I think there are four or five more to come, maybe today. [blush]
Archaeologica's current news links:
People who shoot archaeologists on sight should be shot on sight, and the rest of their families as well, as a penalty.
This thread makes me itch.
5.56mmm
How much time separates an archeologist from a grave robber?
L
Zero, because an archaeologist ISN’T a graverobber.
Mummy told us there’d be days like that.
“because an archaeologist ISN’T a graverobber.”
Apparently the people whose relatives they’re digging up have a different opinion.
I don’t blame them.
L
Of course you don’t, you think archaeologists should be shot on sight.
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