Ancient DNA traces European roots of smallpox in the Americas
TL;DR
Genomic analysis of smallpox DNA from Chilean mummies shows the virus arrived in the Americas from Europe, with the Chilean strain diverging from a European lineage around the 13th century, confirming European colonizers were the source and illustrating how the virus evolved as it spread to new populations.
- How smallpox reached the Americas: first genomic evidence points to Europeans Nature
- Ancient mummy DNA provides scientific evidence that colonization brought smallpox to the Americas AP News
- 'Clear Evidence': Ancient DNA From Chilean Mummies Reveals Who Brought Smallpox to The Americas ScienceAlert
- ‘This Is Very Strange’: Ancient Smallpox May Have Been Less Deadly The New York Times
- Smallpox DNA in ancient Inca mummies shows virus came from Europe New Scientist
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Nature