Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

November 19, 2009Brain-eating tribe enriches understanding of mad cow disease
The Times(UK) ^ | 11/19/09 | Mark Henderson

Posted on 11/19/2009 6:57:03 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster

November 19, 2009

Brain-eating tribe enriches understanding of mad cow disease

Mark Henderson, Science Editor

A cannibalistic ritual in which the brains of dead tribespeople were eaten by their relatives has triggered one of the most striking examples of rapid human evolution on record, scientists have discovered.

In the middle of the 20th century the Fore tribe of the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea was devastated by a CJD-like disease called kuru, which was passed on by mortuary feasts in which the brains of the dead were consumed.

Although the practice was banned in the 1950s and kuru has disappeared, it has left an imprint on the tribe’s DNA. Research has now identified a genetic mutation unique to the Fore that protects against the brain disease and which has spread swiftly through the population by natural selection.

As the mutation confers high or almost complete resistance to kuru, carriers have a survival advantage and have had more descendants. About 8 per cent of people from the Purosa Valley region, where kuru hit hardest, now have the gene, which is unknown anywhere else in the world.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: gene; godsgravesglyphs; immunity; madcow; newguinea
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last

1 posted on 11/19/2009 6:57:08 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: blam; SunkenCiv

Ping!


2 posted on 11/19/2009 6:58:32 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster (LUV DIC -- L,U,V-shaped recession, Depression, Inflation, Collapse)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

mmm . . . brains


3 posted on 11/19/2009 6:59:51 AM PST by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Zombies suck


4 posted on 11/19/2009 7:00:36 AM PST by Porterville ( I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Somebody ping G-Cube!

” “It’s absolutely fascinating to see Darwinian principles at work here. This community of people have developed their own biologically unique response to a truly terrible epidemic. The fact that this genetic evolution has happened in a matter of decades is remarkable.”


5 posted on 11/19/2009 7:01:08 AM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Mmmmmm think meat.


6 posted on 11/19/2009 7:01:25 AM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Having scrambled eggs for breakfast. MMM MMM MMMMMM


7 posted on 11/19/2009 7:01:56 AM PST by calico_thompson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Paging Dr. Lecter-Dr. Hannibal Lecter.


8 posted on 11/19/2009 7:05:19 AM PST by wombtotomb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: calico_thompson

Sweet breads right?


9 posted on 11/19/2009 7:05:44 AM PST by nikos1121 (Praying for -16.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Over a bed of rice with some flava beans and a nice chianti.

Yum.


10 posted on 11/19/2009 7:06:36 AM PST by Frenchtown Dan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Frenchtown Dan
After death, human brain turns rubbery. I don't know how they cook it. It is probably tough to chew on.
11 posted on 11/19/2009 7:08:45 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster (LUV DIC -- L,U,V-shaped recession, Depression, Inflation, Collapse)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

AIDS IS CURED IN TWO GENERATIONS! (provided that the population reproduces)

HIV There is evidence that a variant of a gene called CCR5-32, which offers resistance against HIV, is increasing in frequency in Africa


12 posted on 11/19/2009 7:08:58 AM PST by calico_thompson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

13 posted on 11/19/2009 7:09:42 AM PST by Tribune7 (God bless Carrie Prejean)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

It’s extremely disturbing to me that you know that.


14 posted on 11/19/2009 7:10:54 AM PST by villagerjoel (1. Implement socialist policies 2. ??? 3. Heaven on earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Squirrel-head stew is good too, but not good for you for the same reason.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_37_13/ai_55721715/


15 posted on 11/19/2009 7:11:49 AM PST by HospiceNurse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

wow...and it didn’t take them millions and billions of years to do it either!


16 posted on 11/19/2009 7:12:36 AM PST by stefanbatory (Weed out the RINOs! Sign the pledge. conservativepledge.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: villagerjoel
Brain anatomy class.:-)
17 posted on 11/19/2009 7:12:48 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster (LUV DIC -- L,U,V-shaped recession, Depression, Inflation, Collapse)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

Several things wrong with this. Number one, immediately stating it show Darwinism at work is, in fact more like Lamarck than Darwin. Second, stating that a ‘gene’ against kuru is “ a gene against kuru” is suspect, as is saying there is “no other gene like it seen in any other person on the world”. Broad sweeping statements that get published but do not bear up under scrutiny. It is entirely possible that they have identified a gene that exists in “survivors” that would exist in any number of other tribespeople. Since the practice of eating the brains of the dead is assumed to continue at the same rate, when it may not be (and, indeed how does one verify— yeah, so you ate your Dad’s brains- with any accuracy) this makes most of the claims here “pop science” and outcome being fitted to science theory. Not very compelling. By the way, if they are claiming a “mutation”, mutations under Darwin were always assumed to be helpful— in research they have generally been show to be harmful and species reacting to a mutation by dying out.


18 posted on 11/19/2009 7:16:31 AM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

This might be the first time evolution itself has actually been observed.


19 posted on 11/19/2009 7:17:54 AM PST by Rapscallion (Obama: Proof that Socialism and Islam are inferior to Capitalism and Christianity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster
Pig brains baby, gotta be pig brains. They taste like chicken liver. MMMMmmmmm


20 posted on 11/19/2009 7:23:28 AM PST by scoobysnak71
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson