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Malaria devastated humans far earlier than expected
New bioarchaeological research shows malaria has threatened human communities for more than 7000 years, earlier than when the onset of farming was thought to have sparked its devastating arrival. Lead author Dr Melandri Vlok from the Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, says this ground-breaking research, published today in Scientific Reports, changes the entire understanding…
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Ancient marsupial ‘junk DNA’ might be useful after all, scientists say
Viral fossils buried in DNA may protect against future virus infections, a new marsupial study suggests. Researchers at UNSW Sydney, who examined the DNA and RNA of 13 Australian marsupial species, believe that viral fossils may be helping protect animals from infection. «These viral fragments have been retained for a reason. Over millions of years…
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Museum volunteers discover new species of extinct heron at North Florida fossil site
When the bones of an ancient heron were unearthed at a North Florida fossil site, the find wasn’t made by researchers but by two Florida Museum of Natural History volunteers. A previously unknown genus and species, the heron has been named Taphophoyx hodgei. A previously unknown genus and species, the heron has been named Taphophoyx…