"The Enigma of Kuru: Vanishing Women in Papua New Guinea"

Kuru, a mysterious disease that affected the Fore people in Papua New Guinea, was spread through mortuary feasts where the deceased were consumed, leading to a devastating impact on the community. New genetic research has revealed that the kuru epidemic did not halt migration or intermarriage, and female survivors carried genetic variants that likely made them resistant to the disease. The study also uncovered significant genetic differences between linguistic groups in the region, shedding light on the impact of pandemics and epidemics on a population's genetic makeup.