Genetic Adaptation Enabled the Black Death's Long-Term Survival
TL;DR Summary
A genetic change in the Yersinia pestis bacterium, responsible for the Black Death, prolonged its pandemics by reducing its virulence, allowing infected rodents to live longer and spread the disease more effectively, providing new insights into the persistence of historical plagues and disease evolution.
- This Genetic ‘Trick’ Helped the Black Death Linger for Centuries Gizmodo
- One of the world’s most notorious pathogens has survived for centuries. Scientists say they now know why CNN
- Black Death Plague That Killed Millions Became Less Fatal because of This Genetic Tweak Scientific American
- Single gene may help explain the plague's persistence throughout human history Live Science
- Study Reveals Plague's Evolutionary Hack to Survive 3 Pandemics sciencealert.com
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