• Health
  • Science
  • U.S.
  • Technology
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports

Building a Better World

News and information

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team

Scientists shocked by huge discovery about humans

October 3, 2017 By Dan Taylor

Scientists shocked by huge discovery about humans

A remarkable new study has pinpointed the early human ancestor that is responsible for giving us genital herpes.

Scientists have identified the culprit that brought mankind the scourge known as genital herpes, and it appears it came from an early human ancestor. A new study claims that ancient chimpanzees passed oral herpes genetically to the earliest humans when our lineage split millions of years ago, and we narrowly missed avoiding it altogether.

But unfortunately for us, an early human ancestor was in just the right place to catch HSV-2, and it may be because another hominin species known as Paranthropus boiosei that stood 4 feet tall and had a small brain with a wide face. Bolsei acted as the bridge that allowed genital herpes to jump from primates to humans, scientists believe.

Boisei and Homo erectus lived in Africa somewhere between 1.4 million and 3 million years ago, and they likely interacted at water sources. HSV-2 was in its infancy and was able to spread orally. Chimp bites and scratches could have transferred the virus through sores.

“Two herpes simplex viruses infect primates from unknown evolutionary depths. In modern humans these viruses manifest as cold sores (HSV1) and genital herpes (HSV2),” reads the University of Cambridge statement. “Unlike HSV1, however, the earliest proto-humans did not take HSV2 with them when our ancient lineage split from chimpanzee precursors around 7 million years ago. Humanity dodged the genital herpes bullet – almost. Somewhere between 3 and 1.4 million years ago, HSV2 jumped the species barrier from African apes back into human ancestors – probably through an intermediate hominin species unrelated to humans. Hominin is the zoological ‘tribe’ to which our species belongs.”

Sharing

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Filed Under: Front Page, Health

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Facebookrss

Search:

Recent Posts

  • NASA’s InSight spacecraft makes important course correction May 26, 2018
  • Scientists outraged at latest Trump decision May 15, 2018
  • Huge uproar erupts over major incident at Utah park May 13, 2018
  • Incredible moon discovery stuns scientists May 12, 2018
  • Authorities shocked by discovery about common painkiller May 6, 2018
  • Outrageous crocodile experiment stuns scientists May 5, 2018
  • Great Barrier Reef is too quiet, scientists say May 1, 2018
  • Massive Hiroshima bomb discovery shocks scientists May 1, 2018
  • Earth will be slammed by massive asteroid April 29, 2018
  • Teens are doing something incredibly alarming in schools April 29, 2018
  • Huge discovery in Tasmania stuns scientists April 28, 2018
  • Shocking discovery in New Jersey stuns authorities April 22, 2018
  • Huge volcanic explosion could wipe out the United States April 21, 2018
  • Huge controversy erupts over world’s hottest pepper April 15, 2018
  • SpaceX is about to do something astonishing April 15, 2018

Copyright © 2021 Jones Kilmartin Group, LLC · Metro Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress