Video Stone Age dog buried with 5,000-year-old dagger found in Sweden
Archaeologists have unearthed a remarkably intact canine skeleton from the Stone Age interred with a 5,000 year old bone blade in a Swedish marshland.
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Scientists have obtained primeval DNA containing microbes akin to syphilis – possibly extending the established timeline of the ailment by over 3,000 years, according to their investigation.
These revelations, shared through a Jan. 22 media release, stem from an exploration of 5,500-year-old human remains discovered in Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia. The study saw its publication in the journal Science this month.
Experts dissecting the remains retrieved a genome of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium accountable for syphilis alongside three additional treponemal conditions.
A genome constitutes an organism’s genetic constitution. In this recent analysis, scientists utilized age-old DNA fragments to reassemble the bacterium’s genetic makeup.
They procured a sample from the skeleton’s tibia – an uncommon practice, as most genomes originate from dental or skeletal matter of visibly afflicted subjects.
Bacteria linked to syphilis were present in the Americas millennia before earlier estimations, according to researchers associated with a fresh ancient DNA study. (Bettmann via Getty Images)
“The methodology proved fruitful, implying that even skeletal remains without demonstrable indications of sickness could serve as precious reservoirs of pathogen DNA,” the release conveyed.
The investigation implies that bacteria related to syphilis existed in the Americas well before Columbus’s arrival.
There isn’t any scholarly unanimity on the actual origin of syphilis — yet its first documented case in Europe was during the 15th century.
“The finding propels the genetic inscription of this pathogenic species backward by over 3,000 years,” the press announcement stated.
Scientists participating in the novel exploration (not in the image) obtained DNA samples from the skeleton’s shinbone. (iStock)
“[This] bolsters proof that these ailments have propagated in the Americas for a much greater duration than previously realized.”
Other sources emphasize that the new research hinged on a singular ancient genome — “and there aren’t any similarly dated genomes from European or other areas for a like-for-like assessment,” according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as mentioned in Technology Networks.
“Going forward, research will necessitate additional ancient genomes from diverse locations and periods, in conjunction with studies on human immune system reactions and deeper collaboration with Indigenous groups,” the Washington, D.C.-based establishment articulated. “In totality, this effort doesn’t resolve the syphilis conundrum, but it underscores how vast a portion of the narrative is yet unaccounted for.”
‘Unexpected’ results
The recent revelations surfaced “unexpectedly,” the release specified, given that scientists weren’t initially in pursuit of disease indicators.
They “initially sequenced the individual’s DNA to scrutinize human population genealogy, generating 1.5 billion segments of genetic information — significantly greater than typical explorations,” the declaration noted.
These discoveries insinuate that bacteria akin to syphilis were present in the Americas far preceding the arrival of Columbus, researchers stated. (Historical Picture Archive/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
“During the data screening process, teams from the University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of Lausanne independently identified T. pallidum, prompting them to coalesce and probe further.”
Lars Fehren-Schmitz, a geneticist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who participated in the research, conveyed that these discoveries underscore the importance of scrutinizing ancient DNA.
This analysis contests longstanding suppositions concerning the genesis of syphilis, which was primarily chronicled in Europe during the 15th century. (Photo 12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images; Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
“Our results exemplify the distinctive capacity of paleogenomics in augmenting our comprehension of species evolution, alongside potential health hazards for communities of both the past and present,” Fehren-Schmitz commented.
Archaeological discoveries involving antique ailments remain scarce, yet strides made in DNA examination have catalyzed noteworthy revelations.
Last November, scientists released their conclusions pertaining to the lethal pathogens that decimated Napoleon’s troops amid his fateful 1812 withdrawal from Russia.