Scientists Discover Earliest Known Case of Malaria In Egyptian Mummies
posted in Archaeology |The earliest known cases of malaria has been discovered by scientists in two Egyptian mummies,which happen to be 3,500 years old.
Researchers in Germany conducted studies on samples of bone tissue taken from 90 mummies discovered in the ancient, Thebes in Egypt which is now Luxor.
Two of the adult mummies belonging to separate tombs contained tissues, which had ancient DNA from a malaria causing parasite.
Another team from University College, London, discovered a pair of skeletons ( a woman and a child), which happen to be 9,000 year old, off the coast of Israel. These skeletons are infected with tuberculosis and are the oldest known cases of the disease.
The examination of DNA for clues in understanding organisms that cause diseases and how they evolve can have an immense impact on modern medicine. One will be able to understand how these deadly diseases affect people.