Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Black Death genetic code 'built'

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Science Donate to DU
 
Bosonic Donating Member (774 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-12-11 05:47 PM
Original message
Black Death genetic code 'built'
The genetic code of the germ that caused the Black Death has been reconstructed by scientists for the first time.

The researchers extracted DNA fragments of the ancient bacterium from the teeth of medieval corpses found in London.

They say the pathogen is the ancestor of all modern plagues.

The research, published in the journal Nature, suggests the 14th Century outbreak was also the first plague pandemic in history.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15278366
Refresh | +4 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
valerief Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-12-11 05:48 PM
Response to Original message
1. Why am I expecting a "whoops!" coming from them soon? nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
virgogal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-12-11 05:49 PM
Response to Original message
2. How comforting.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-12-11 05:50 PM
Response to Original message
3. I live in an endemic plague state
and there are human cases, usually transmitted by pets, every couple of years. There are likely other cases where people get antibiotics and never know they had it. It's very treatable now.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
yardwork Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-12-11 06:03 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. It's treatable where antibiotics are available. About 2,000 people die each year of plague
according to the article. I'm sure that nearly 100% of them live in countries where even inexpensive antibiotics are too expensive.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-12-11 06:25 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Or in countries where people go to curanderas
or other folk healers first, delaying treatment until it's too late.

We have cases like that every few years, but deaths from plague are rare here.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Bake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-12-11 05:57 PM
Response to Original message
4. What could go wrong with that???
Don't worry, be happy!

:hi:

Bake
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
eppur_se_muova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-12-11 10:21 PM
Response to Original message
7. Thanks, was going to post this ...
I had recently read a book ("Justinian's Flea" - http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780670038558-0) about the 6th-century plague, which turned out to be the most informative I had read about the Black Plague (I haven't tried reading any technical stuff, just pop science -- oh, and Connie Willis's "Doomsday Book"). Now it turns out that there may not have been much of a connection. :shrug:
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Wed May 01st 2024, 06:39 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Science Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC