13/07/2025
A study analyzed ancient human DNA to chart the history of infectious diseases over 37,000 years, primarily focusing on Europe and Asia. Researchers discovered the earliest evidence of zoonotic disease, where pathogens jump from animals to humans, dating back 6,500 years, with a significant increase around 5,000 years ago, coinciding with the rise of livestock domestication. While 214 known human pathogens were detected, including diphtheria and yersiniosis, tuberculosis was not found, possibly due to its low concentration in the bloodstream. This extensive research, the largest of its kind, holds potential implications for future medicine and vaccine development.
By analyzing ancient DNA, scientists determined when, where and how our ancestors got sick from infectious diseases.