Pubic Lice Leapt From Gorillas To Early Humans

New Scientist ^ | 3-7-2007 | Roxanne Khamsi

[blam]

Pubic lice leapt from gorillas to early humans

18:26 07 March 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Roxanne Khamsi

A genetic analysis of pubic lice suggests the parasites were transferred between early humans and gorillas about 3.3 million years ago.

Researchers say the findings suggest close contact between our ancestors and gorillas. But they claim it is far more likely that early humans caught the lice from sleeping in abandoned gorilla nests than from having sex with gorillas.

Pubic lice – also known as crabs – can leave irritating spots on the skin when they feed on the blood of their hosts. The parasites lack wings and cannot jump like fleas, so they remain stuck on a host until they come into close contact with another individual. Each species of pubic lice thrives on only one host species.

In the first part of the new study, scientists collected Pthirus gorillae lice from primates in Ugandan wildlife sanctuaries. David Reed of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, US and collaborators then analysed the DNA of these parasites and compared the gene mutations with those seen in the Pthirus pubis lice, which can live in the pubic hairs of modern-day humans.

Close encounters

Humans and gorillas are thought to have last shared a common ancestor 7 to 9 million years ago. Reed says that because gene mutations accumulate over time in both lice species, he expected substantial differences between them. But the DNA analysis revealed the genes of Pthirus gorillae and Pthirus pubis were surprisingly similar.

[oncebitten]

And someone got paid to do this study (which I don't believe, by the way). Meanwhile in China they are developing 4th generation methods for manufacturing large size LCD televisions to sell us. What a waste.

[P.O.E.]

It's not so much the image of them leaping, it's the infernal calliope music:

[OldEagle]

"Pubic Lice Leapt From Gorillas To Early Humans"

Sure they did!!!!!

[taxesareforever]

A genetic analysis of pubic lice suggests the parasites were transferred between early humans and gorillas about 3.3 million years ago.

This means that Obama and all the other presidential candidates who want us to know their ancestral heritage should be able to trace it all the way back to 3.3 million years ago. Right?

[HardStarboard]

This critical research needs additional funding. Harry Reid's lice appear to come from, not gorillas, but goats, and are rumored to be of the same species as the goat lice found in Osama's campgrounds.

[twonie]

Well said! I didn't really need to know that kind of stuff.

[Ole Okie]

Meanwhile in China they are developing 4th generation methods for manufacturing large size LCD televisions to sell us.

All our "scientists" are busy writing grant proposals to study Climate Change. They're much too busy trying to cash in on CC than worrying about 4th generations of anything.

Chief Scientist and Prophet Algore has already figured out how to cash in on CC. I congratulate him for inventing Global Warming.

[SunkenCiv]

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Note: this topic is dated 3/07/2007. Blast from the Past. Thanks blam. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.