How Black Death survivors gave their descendants an edge during pandemics mtpr.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mtpr.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Up to 50% of Europeans died from the plague. Now a new study shows that those who lived had a protective gene mutation they passed on to bolster immunity but it comes at a cost.
By studying the teeth of plague victims, experts at the University of Chicago were able to identify genetic differences that dictated who survived and who died from the Black Death.
An analysis of DNA extracted from medieval victims and survivors of the Black Death shows that the monumental plague that ravaged Europe in the 14th century continues to impact our biology to this day.