ancient dna

TWiEVO 31: Virus archaeology, or when the human genome is the junk

This Week in Evolution / By Vincent Racaniello

Nels and Vincent present ancient hepatitis B virus genome sequences from Bronze Age to Medieval period human remains. ï»¿ï»¿<span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”>ï»¿</span><span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”>ï»¿</span>&lt;span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”&gt;ï»¿&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: …

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A virus and a paradox in a 439 year old mummy

2 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

A study done in 1985 on a 16th century Italian mummy suggested that the two year old child had smallpox. Recent sequence analysis of tissues from the mummy now reveal the presence of hepatitis B virus, not smallpox virus. The sequence of the viral genome suggests that HBV entered the human population well before 1500.

TWiV 187: The mummy

This Week in Virology / By Vincent Racaniello

On episode #187 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent and Rich discuss recovery of a hepatitis B viral genome from a 16th century Korean mummy, and personal omics profiling of an individual over a 14 month period. You can find TWiV #187 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.

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