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Ben Preiss
1492 Update - Columbus discovered America and Syphilis, Brings Syphilis back to Europe (VIDEO)
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Researchers have found new genetic evidence that supports the theory that Christopher Columbus brought syphilis to Europe from the New World. On the “bright” side, this may relieve some guilt and give a sense of payback, for all the deceases the white man spread to the Native Americans, apparently it was a two-way street.
A new study provides what scientists say is the most convincing evidence to date that the Italian adventurer and some of his crew contracted the disease during their voyage to the New World—and unwittingly introduced it to the old one circa 1493.
The research culminates centuries of debate over whether the disease stemmed from bacteria that originated in the Old or New worlds.
Scientists say the study is significant because of the large number of strains analyzed, including two species of yaws found in isolated inhabitants of Guyana in South America.
"Syphilis was a major killer in Europe during the Renaissance," said co-author George Armelagos, a skeletal biologist at Emory who has been studying syphilis for three decades. "Understanding its evolution is important not just for biology, but for understanding social and political history. It could be argued that syphilis is one of the most important early examples of globalization and disease, and globalization remains an important factor in emerging diseases."
(sciam)
Read More: news.yahoo Via: sciam
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