Black Death Alters Human Genome 700 Years Later

Barreiro and colleagues discovered that Black Death survivors in London and Denmark had genes that safeguarded them from the plague pathogen. However, Black Death altered human genome 700 years later.

The Black Death, which ravaged through North Africa, Europe, and Asia 700 years ago, constituted one of the biggest mortality events in human history, eradicating 30–60% of the world's population.

The ancient dead had a secret, according to recently published findings in the medical journal Nature (read below). DNA samples from victims and survivors of Yersinia pestis, widely recognized as the bubonic plague, revealed unique genetic variances that allowed some to survive while others died.

Those genetic changes most likely altered the evolution of the human genome, as plague survivors passed on genes that previously helped them survive the dreadful plague pathogen to their kids and are now connected to an increased risk of autoimmune disorders including Crohn's and rheumatoi...