Life Science log

Pictured are the left femur, two right humerus and a right hemifrontal bone belonging to at least two newborns found at "La Ermita de la Soledad " in Huelva. All show... The ancient bones of newborns are very useful to recover the ancient DNA of the bacteria causing syphilis, the Treponema pallidum pallidum. This is the conclusion reached by a study led by Universitat Autňnoma de Barcelona (UAB), which was able to obtain the genetic material from the bacteria in more than one individual, in what is considered to be the oldest case known to date. Several previous intents had only achieved to yield this material in one occasion and from only one individual.