Viral Evolution: Mummy Virus Challenges Presumed History of Smallpox.
Despite evidence of smallpox in antiquity, a new study of a 350 year-old Lithuanian child mummy suggests that the global viral genetic diversity circulating during the 20thcentury was only around 200 years old.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: jwertheim@ucsd.edu.
Joel O
JO
Wertheim
D005075:Biological Evolution; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009106:Mummies / Q000266:history* / Q000821:virology; D012899:Smallpox / Q000266:history* / Q000821:virology; D012901:Variola virus / Q000235:genetics*
D004279:DNA, Viral